A A C T I V A T E RHODES UNIVERSITY INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER EDITION 2 • 20 MARCH 2012 • SINCE 1947

Jabu Stone in G’town

Removing the black tape : Survivor speaks out SA’s Dagga Couple

GIVEAWAY TONIGHT: 2 Double tickets to SPLASHY FEN! Photo Feature: KNOW YOUR MEAT* *Warning: this feature is not for the faint-hearted

Edition 2 . 20 March 2012

Page 7: Editor-in-chief: RU student forum Lauren Kate Rawlins Deputy Editor: Page 10: Isabelle Anne Abraham Content Editor: LARK interview Kayla Roux Managing Editor Palesa Mashigo Page 11: Online Editor: Alexander Venturas Chief Media Supervisor: Political correctness Megan Ellis

and power of the Chief Sub-Editor: Matthew Kynaston tongue Chief Designer Simone Loxton Assistant Designer: Page 15: Mignon van Zyl Chief Pics Editor:

HIGHLIGHTS Anton Scholtz Know your meat Assistant Pics Editor: Niamh Walsh-Vorster Page 18: Illustrator: Katja Schreiber

Singing for sex? News Editor: Sibulele Mabusela Deputy News Editor: Page 20: Neo Koza Politics Editor: Sexual abuse and the Marc Davies Business Editor: male myth Njabulo Nkosi C&A Editor: Alexa Sedgwick Page 27: Features Editor: Karlien van der Wielen Features Assistant Editor: Jack Parow performs live on the main stage at the 2010 Splashy Fen music festival. Splashy is Win a meal at La Trattoria Nina McFall held annually over the Easter weekend in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains and is Lifestyle Editor: South Africa’s longest running music festival. This year’s festival promises to be the best yet, Sarisha Dhaya win one of two double tickets with Activate tonight! Turn to Page 8 for more details… A & E Editor: Elna Schütz Front Page Picture: Jabu Stone is regarded in many circles as ‘Mr Dreads’ because of his Sports Editor: dedication and vigorous pursuit of the African identity through the promotion of braids and Bridgette Hall African locks amongst African people. Stone was one of the speakers in the Sasol ChemCity Science & Tech Editor: Talkshop Series that were held at ScifestAfrica 2012. Stone is successful entrepreneur who Brad de Klerk started his own business developing products for dreadlocks. He is an inspiration to all South Environment Editor Africans and encouraged those in his Talkshop to work for themselves and not for someone Shirley Erasmus else. Pics: Lauren Rawlins Advertising Manager Lethukuthula Tembe Advertising Assistants From the Editor Justine Pearce Adrienne Weidner Distribution Manager: his edition of Activate has been an interesting and challenging one for Tomorrow, 21 March, our country will be celebrating Human Rights Day. To- Bulali Dyakopu our team. Challenging because we expanded the paper from 24 to 32 night, Activate hopes to celebrate your right to freedom of expression with you. pages, and because some of the content we are addressing is of a sensi- Your freedom to say want you want, to let your beat be heard… this event and Community Engagement: Victoria Hlubi tiveT nature and needed to be tackled comprehensively. On the other hand, it the concept behind it has helped me reflect, and in light of recent events I think has been interesting because we have tried to approach our content in a new that it rings very true that freedom of speech does not mean freedom from Editorial Consultant: way, allowing our readers to play an active role in the creation of our paper. For consequence. Just because you have the freedom to say what you want, does Craig Wynn this reason, we have placed particular emphasis on our Comment & Analysis not mean that someone does not have an equal freedom to respond negatively. section in this edition. I would like you to be able to engage with Activate and We hope to create a reciprocal relationship with our readers – one in which Contacts: Editor: to join in the conversation around the topics that you care about. We want to ideas and concepts can go back and forth and both parties never stop learning activate.editor@gmail. avoid dressing our opinion up as fact, but rather explore the social situations from each other. com that we all find ourselves in alongside our readers. Media producers should create and facilitate debates and provide a platform from which readers can Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor: activate.deputy@gmail. have their say. Lauren Kate Rawlins com

There are a number of important events happening this week at Rhodes. To- Activate falls under a morrow, the SRC will be hosting a student body meeting called ‘The people creative commons licence. shall govern’, and on Friday is Rhodes’ annual Silent Protest - both very im- Printed by Paarlcoldset, portant for different reasons - and we deal with both of them in the paper. Port Elizabeth Last week was Environmental Week. Our photo feature relates to this and I would like to make it clear that we did not run this story to push a vegan or vegetarian agenda (most of my team are carnivores, including the photogra- pher!), but rather to inform our readers and to help them make responsible choices about food. 04 News in [Brief] Edition 2 DA and COSATU clash DA Parliamentary Leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said the trade union confederation COSATU has turned down the opportunity to discuss youth unemployment with her party. According to the SABC, Mazibuko felt that Cosatu stood in opposition to rulings that could greatly relieve youth unemployment. “On the one hand, they oppose corruption, and programmes such as e-tolling in Gauteng,” she said. “On the other hand, they continue to oppose a policy which would create an estimated 423 000 jobs for young, unemployed South Africans.” Mazibuko had written to COSATU’s General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, to request a meeting in which they could discuss such issues. Vavi allegedly declined the request. In reply, Spokesperson of COSATU Patrick Craven said they did not see any benefit in discussing such issues with the DA, for they have too many fundamental differences. “The basis for these differences are rooted in the fact that while COSATU represents the working class and the poor, the DA speaks for big business, the wealthy and the privileged,” he explained.

A Syrian rebel plants a makeshift explosive device to destroy a Syrian Army tank dur- ing a day of heavy fighting with Syrian Army forces in Idlib, northern Syria. Sunday 11 Gaza Strip ceasefire breached March, 2012. Pics: AP/Rodrigo Abd Israeli military on the Gaza Strip agreed to cease their fire after a four-day conflict across the border. However, they have targeted Palestinian militant sites in the Gaza Strip in response to continued rocket fire on southern Israel. According to various news sources, 25 Palestinian lives have already been lost during the border conflict. The conflict reportedly began when an Israeli air raid killed senior military leader Zohair al-Qaisi, the Secretary General of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC). Israel claimed to have attacked him because he was planning an attack on them. The ceasefire constituted of a simple telephone agreement, and soldiers were to stop shooting early in the morning on Tuesday 13 March, but it has not proved complete, as was the case with previous agreements. Rocket fire and air strikes have continued sporadically but there have been no reports of additional casualties.

Beagles sit in their kennels on the fourth and final day of Crufts at the Birmingham NEC Arena in Birmingham, England. Sunday 11 March, 2012. Pics: Getty Images/ Dan Kitwood

Ethiopian migrants hold their travelling numbers as they wait to be repatriated at a transit centre run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the western Yemeni town of Haradh, at the border of Saudi Arabia on 15 March 2012. Some 12 000 migrants, mostly from the Horn of Africa, are stranded in Haradh, which they use as a stepping stone to reach Saudi Arabia, according to the International Organization for Migration. Last week, local media reported atrocities committed against migrants by trafficking gangs which kidnap migrants for ransom from their families in the Gulf Arab states. Pic: REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

March 11, 2012. The body of an Afghan child, shot by a rogue US soldier, is seen with other bodies in the back of a truck in Alkozai village of Panjwayi district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Pic: JANGIR / AFP / Getty Images 05 20 March 2012 News in Brief[s] in briefs NewsBy Sibulele Mabusela and Neo Koza [ ]

The delivery tower at the Volkswagen company’s headquarter in Wolfsburg, Germany. 12 March, 2012. Pic: Reuters/Fabian Bimmer

Nicholas Weidemann, a Grade 11 pupil from Beaulieu College in Midrand, takes a swab of his own DNA while his classmates inspect the task during the CSI:DNA workshop at The Monument, 14 March 2012. The workshop was run by Professor Valerie Corfield from the South African Medical Research Counsel to create awareness and is part of an advocacy group for the establishment of a national DNA database. Pic: Andrew Brukman

A masked member of the National Teachers’ Union gestures as he walks past a line of police Red Bull offends officers during a protest march in Mexico City 15 March, 2012. Thousands of teachers from the state of Michoacan, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz and Mexico City took part in the protest against the mandatory evaluation tests for teachers and to demand the removal of the leader Catholics of their union, Elba Esther Gordillo, according to local media. Pic: REUTERS/Edgard Garrido Energy drink producer Red Bull has recently had to drop an advertisement in South Africa after a complaint about the advertisement’s portrayal of Jesus walking on water. Roman Catholic church Leaders urged Catholics to boycott the drink for Lent, arguing that the advertisement was blasphemous and offensive to Christians. The advertisement depicted Jesus walking on water not because of a miracle or because of Red Bull, but because he knew where the rocks under the water were placed and could tread on them with ease. Two years ago Red Bull had to pull another advert from the air in which Moses and the Israelites fly over the Red Sea after drinking a can of Red Bull, sparking a similar outrage. In a statement, the drinks maker said its humorous advertising always looks at well-known themes with which viewers can harmlessly identify. “It is never our intention to hurt anyone’s feelings,” it said. ICC finds warlord guilty In the court’s first verdict since it was set up 10 years ago, the International Criminal Court (ICC) found Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga guilty of war crimes. Lubanga headed the Union of Congolese Patriots and has been accused of forcefully recruiting child A women cries as she recovers from severe injuries, after the Syrian Army shelled her house soldiers during the inter-ethnic conflict in the DRC. Lubamba, who was arrested in 2005, will be sentenced in Idlib, northern Syria, killing her husband and two children. March 10, 2012. Pic: Rodrigo Abd/AP at a later hearing. According to the court’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute, Lubanga faces a sentence of life in prison. According to the document, life in prison is justified by the “extreme gravity of the crime and the individual circumstances of the convicted person.” He still has the right to appeal against the guilty verdict on all charges. US-based Human Rights Watch says more than 60,000 people were killed in the conflict between the Hema and Lendu groups in Ituri in north-eastern DRC. A check out Juju’s public apology Activate Online! to the ANC Ex-ANCYL leader Julius Malema made a public apology to the ANC on Asikhulume, a current affairs talk show on SABC, Sunday, 11 March. “I want to also apologise to the leadership of the African National Congress for anything that they think I have done wrong,” said Malema, according to MSN News. Malema was suspended from his position for five years but has appealed against this charge. He was given leave to present the board with evidence as to why he feels they should review his sentence. Unfortunately for Malema, the board upped his sentence from suspension to expulsion from the ANC, for bringing the ANC into disrepute and sowing divisions in the party’s ranks. 06 News Edition 2 Drugs found on buses By Makaziwe Sopazi Communications Officer for the police. The street value of the drugs has not yet been rahamstown police initiated two established. Gdrug busts late last week, in which The second incident involved a Citiliner thousands of Rands worth of narcotics were bus at the same spot. Upon searching the confiscated. Members of the Grahamstown luggage compartment they found four SAPS Highway patrol stopped a Translux refuse bags packed between the luggage. The bus carrying approximately 40 passengers bags were filled with marijuana. Although on the N2 near the Settlers Monument in the street value of the drugs is estimated the early hours of the morning. at approximately R12 200, no arrests were On a routine search of the luggage made in either of the cases. compartment, a suspicious bag was opened. Involved in the bust were Constables It contained 207 bundles of khat, an illegal Khayalethu Hambaze, Wayne Wessels, stimulant drug derived from a shrub. John Dolf, Siyabonga Tunzi and Sergeant “While there is less awareness about khat Thembinkosi Njengele. Govender as compared to marijuana, it is a growing commended the police officials for their problem,” said Captain Mali Govender, vigilance. Perlemoen syndicate exposed By Sibulele Mabusela

wo men were arrested on the N2 near the Settlers Monument in Grahamstown on the Tmorning of Sunday, 18 March in connection with a perlmoen smuggling syndicate. Perlemoen, also known as abalone, is a seafood delicacy which is illegal to remove from the ocean in South Africa without a permit. Masixole Loqo (24) and Bongani Lunikwana (31), both from East London, were travelling in a white Mazda sedan from Fish River (where they had allegedly picked up the perlemoen) prior to being apprehended by members of the Grahamstown Highway patrol. Once the patrol team stopped and searched the vehicle, they found several bags filled with perlemoen. The suspects were taken into custody and the perlemoen was counted and weighed by members of the Marine and Coastal Environment team. According to Captain Mali Govender, the Communication Officer of the Grahamstown SAPS, there were a total of 1 173 units weighing more than 170 kgs. The street value of the perlemoen is R120 675. The 2011 annual Silent Protest seen from the cathedral as demonstrations move down High Street. The March has gained popularity since its inception in 2006 and over 1 000 people have signed up for the The suspects were detained, but they were released later as they have already appeared in 2012 march. Pic: Ulandi Du Plessis court and received their trial date. Empowering survivors By Sibulele Mabusela Grahamstown. “Just the way the protest has grown over the last six years is an indication hodes University hosts one of the biggest of how necessary these platforms are in South Rprotests against sexual violence in South Africa.” Africa. This year Rhodes will host its sixthSilent Captain Mali Govender, the Communications Protest. The annual protest, a day-long Officer of the Grahamstown police station, demonstration that will be taking place on Friday noted that quite a few incidences of rape were 23, March at Rhodes, confronts the issue of being reported, but could not comment on sexual violence and aims to raise awareness and whether or not the numbers had declined to encourage survivors of sexual abuse to speak since the beginning of the protest because out. this development was not specifically being The Silent Protest was established six years ago monitored. She did, however, note that sexual in association with Rhodes University’s Dean of violence was definitely a prevalent issue in the Students Office and the 1in9 campaign, which Grahamstown community. Govender mentioned started in 2006 to coincide with President Jacob that there were “two separate incidents of rape Zuma’s rape trial. It showed solidarity with the the weekend of 10 to 11 March, and that the two women in the trial and others who voiced their suspects had been arrested”. protests against rape and sexual violence. The Solomon said that when it came to numbers protest has grown since then, and it will be run as “it [was] hard to quantify”, because she believes an independent campaign for the first time this that “it’s not just about awareness, but also about year. It will still be in keeping with its primary showing survivors support”. “The Silent Protest objective, which is to stand in solidarity with definitely has had an effect on campus in terms rape survivors as well as to allow survivors a ‘safe of the support,” she said. space’ to speak about their experiences. There have, however, been more reports of The protest should be bringing this issue (which rape at Rhodes. Solomon commented on how is on the rise in the Eastern Cape) to light, and in her first year, which was in 2006, no issues offering support and space for residents to work of sexual assault had been reported prior to the through their experiences in the same way. Silent Protest, but on the 5th anniversary of “It brings an issue that is often not spoken the Silent Protest, 3 rapes had been reported to about, or is wrapped in a shroud of secrecy, Student Services Officer Larissa Klazinga. “This is into the open, and provides a platform where not necessarily a negative trend,” Solomon said. survivors and women can be empowered and “This means that women feel more empowered make their voices heard,” said Media Liaison to report their rape, instead of remaining silent for the Silent Protest, Michelle Solomon, upon and without legal recourse against their attacker.” being asked how the Silent Protest impacted 07 20 March 2012 News Equal Education takes ministers to court By Nikho Mageza Doron Isaacs, who is a Coordinator of the NGO, functioning libraries for the learners to access. said that “proper standards in the department This is a problem in the Eastern Cape as well, qual Education (EE), a movement will force the schools to spend on their budgets... with reports saying that there are still 395 mud- comprised of learners, teachers, parents to avoid massive under-spending in provinces hut schools in the province alone. According and community members, has filed such as the Eastern Cape” Motshekga admitted to EE, learners at Menziwa High School in the Eyet another court case against the Minister of that facilities, especially in rural areas, are in an Eastern Cape burned down their school late last Education Angie Motshekga. appalling state, and that schools are still affected week. The school had originally formed part They filed their court case at the High by past inequalities. This has encouraged EE in its of EE’s court case that was launched last week Court in Bisho on 7 March, demanding that two-year campaign and its pursuit for a settlement against Motshekga and the nine provincial Minister of Education, Angie Wotshekga, has come the Department of Education provides equal in the court case against the Department. Educatiom MECs. However, Menziwa High under fire because Equal Education claims that the Department of Education has failed to provide equal education infrastructure for everyone. Further Motshekga believes that standard measures School withdrew from the legal action following education infrastructue to all.Pic: Flickr charges were laid against Finance Minister Pravin should be implemented: “The right to basic a promise from the Eastern Cape Government to Gordhan and all education MECs. According to education cannot be seen as separate from the rebuild the school. would force Motshekga to prescribe the minimum TimesLive, this is the most comprehensive outcry conditions under which pupils are taught.” In collaboration with the court case, Equal norms and standards for school infrastructure, as against the Minister of Education that democratic Nearly 3600 rural schools lack electricity. In Education has called for 10 ‘Days of Action’ it believes the learners’ basic right to education is South Africa has ever seen. KwaZulu-Natal, 92% of schools do not have across the country. It seeks a court order that being violated. Fulbright deadline looming By Craig Wynn study are given the opportunity to be placed University students will be heading to America curriculum is suitable, Downe emphasises in tertiary institutions in America while their in August to begin the next phase of their that “The panel can spot people who just want he prestigious Fulbright Program is open US counterparts will in turn be placed at tertiary education. to go for prestige – just Ivy Leauges. “That Tfor applications until 20 April 2012. institutions in other countries. As well as their academic pursuits, Downe application goes into the bin,” he warns. Aloysious Downe, Public Affairs Specialist at Successful applicants are awarded funding says awardees will help to “increase mutual Applications for the US academic year 2013- the US Consulate-General in Cape Town, held based on their academic excellence, character understanding” between the two nations. 2014 are open until 20 April 2012. Applications an information session on 15 March at Eden and intentions and are put through a stringent Alumni of the Fulbright exchange programme and further information are available online Grove for those interested. selection process involving written applications include many respected academics and at http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/fulbright_ The programme is sponsored by the US and interviews. professionals, including Rhodes University’s program.html Department of State and is an international Worldwide, the programme has seen 279 000 Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat. Rhodes University’s Postgraduate exchange initiative between the US and other participants to date and each year between 20 Encouraging potential applicants to be Financial Aid Administrator, John Gillam, countries. Students, specialists and scholars and 25 students from South Africa are awarded thoughtful about which institutions they would is also available for advice and assistance at from around the world and various fields of the scholarship. This year three Rhodes like to attend and to ensure that their intended [email protected]. Rhodes student budget addressed By Sibulele Mabusela he believed that, “in and of itself, the SRC could not fulfil all of the sporting event this year, the university still reserved the rights its duties” due to a lack of staff, and that the issue could only be to reject the notion,” he said. he SRC student forum, held on Tuesday, 13 March, is an resolved by looking at its students substructures and allowing for A heated debate between a student and the council later ensued Tevent aimed at increasing the information available to a more “student-governed institution”. after the student added an item to the agenda: he raised his students concerning their leadership body and serving as a Vice-President External Martin Forsyth, who acted as dissatisfaction with how the SRC had handled racist comments platform on which the SRC can communicate with the students it chairperson at the forum, stated in his introductory address that from a former SRC member. The second-year student, Carl represents. this year’s council had plans for how “transparent communication Rigney, voiced his opinion on how he felt the “SRC distanced The most recent one was held at the General Lecture Theatre [could] be achieved”. themselves from the incident and didn’t condemn racist on Tuesday, 13 March. It was not only the first principal meeting Other important matters pertaining to the agenda included: behaviour”. The item was noted by the council and moved to the under the SRC President Matthieu Maralack, but also served as Information on the constitution reformation, which is underway agenda of a later event, the Student Body meeting, where students the first of the council for 2012. and is currently being reviewed by the SRC legal board. would have a chance to voice their feelings on the matter. In his presidential address Maralack mentioned that the SRC O-Week serenades, to which a great deal of attention was paid. was committed to “empower[ing] its student counterparts while Intervarsity, which was mentioned by SRC Project manager Rory This event will take place tomorrow 21 March, 2012. “The People disempowering the SRC”. He explained that this was because Abrahams. “[Although] Rhodes University is supposed to host Should Govern” at 14h00 in Barratt 2. 08 Event Edition 2 Activate & African DrumSoc present Let Your Beat Be Heard

TONIGHT Featuring... Mao: No stranger to Grahamstown, Mao has been wowing or “maoing” students for years. 30 years of experience, arguably one of the best drum ‘n’ bass DJs in the country. Who now produces insane Souf Efrican tunes under the label thingimaojiggi. We dare you to try keep still when he is performing. Griminal: Coming from roots in house and tech, he’s discovered a passion for drum and breaks, the deeper sounds of rolling bass mixed up with melodies and the pure sounds and energy of reggae and dub. Expect a Mix ‘n’ Blend technical style of mixing Mix ‘n’ Blend have become one of South Africa’s most What do you think of the South African music scene? with some jump... best prolific DJ/producer crews and they are here to bring break out your bass face! the noise! The double SAMA nominated musicians from It a great scene to be part of. There are so many differ- Cape Town, work through a range of electronic styles ent sounds and everyone from each different facet is up Genie: including dub, funk, dubstep, drum ‘n’ bass, breaks and for collaborating and combining styles which makes for beats. This unique style that mixes and blends a mash a really nice melting pot of music. Prepare for a psychedelic up of genres will transport you on a musical journey carpet ride from this self with a beginning, middle and end with a multitude of How would you describe your sound? proclaimed hippy. their own produced tracks in various genres. A mix mash of genres, from funk and soul and reggae How did you come up with the name “Mix ‘n’ Blend”? all the way through to Glitch, electro, Drum ‘n’ Bass and @nt: Dubstep When we were all at UCT together we ended up doing What are your influences? He is no stranger to Drum a radio show on UCT radio. When thinking of the name Soc events and loves for our show, we realised that between the three of us, Wow, too many to mention. The guys from African playing in Grahamstown we played so many different genre's of music. Then Ben Dope records played a major role in helping us shape Lewis came up with the name Mix ‘n’ Blend. Through our sound and have always been there to show us new because people know how the radio show and other avenues, we started to play styles of music and support. to be free and express out in the Cape Town clubs and the name kind of just themselves. Pass him a Members of Activate and/or African came along with us. What have been the highlights in your career? creme soda and let the DrumSoc get in for free. How long have you guys been playing? Playing Sakifo festival in Reunion island would definitely psychedelic beats begin. be one. Also going to Kenya to play a new years eve Non-members: R20. We've been Dj'ing for around 10 years now. And pro- party on a tropical beach. ducing for about five of those years. MUSIC STARTS AT 8PM 09 20 March 2012 Event Let Your Beat Be Heard Featuring... [Make Your Statement]

We will be collaborating to bring you a space to let your BEAT BE HEARD. Make your statement, in your own way. Seeing as it is Human Rights Day the following day, we will be celebrating our right to freedom of speech and expression.

Members of Activate and/or African At 23:00 there will be a raffle for two double tickets DrumSoc get in for free. to SPLASHY FEN over Easter. Raffle tickets are R10 Non-members: R20. and will be available at the door. You have to be there to win. 10 Competition Edition 2 Win tickets to Splashy Fen

ctivate is giving away two sets of double tickets etc. Tickets are not transferable and may not be Ato Splashy Fen Music Festival tonight. The redeemed for cash. Persons under the age of 18 must 23rd Splashy Fen Music Festival is coming up over be under parental supervision. the Easter long-weekend, and is once again set to Established in 1990, Splashy Fen is South Africa’s rock the southern Drakensberg mountains with an longest-running annual music festival, bringing awesome line-up of more than 80 top live acts on thousands of people from around the country and two stages. It takes place on a farm near Underberg in abroad together for what is regarded by many as the KwaZulu-Natal from April 5 to 9. ultimate outdoor experience. With its breathtaking The giveaway is for festival entry only and includes mountain vistas and unique vibe and character, there camping. Winners will be responsible for their own is simply nothing else like it! For more information transport and need to bring their own camping gear, and the full programme, visit www.splashyfen.co.za.

ARK, a South African live electronic Larkband, is described as having a ‘glitch opera’ sound. A powerful union of Llive instrumentation, soaring vocals and dirty electronic beats, they are an iron fist in a velvet glove. Lead singer Inge Beckmann provides said velvet with her unparalleled ability to stun audiences with her voice and presence. The iron fist is the dark, glitchy production and sound design of producer and instrumentalist Paul Rez. Together, Paul and Inge formed LARK in 2003, later expanding the line-up to include the exceptional talents of bassist and studio engineer Simon ‘Fuzzy’ Ratcliffe, and renowned drummer Sean ‘Ou’ Tim, also known as Mr Sakitumi. Razbliuto, LARK’s first studio album, was released in 2007. It was met with critical acclaim, earning the band a SAMA for Best Alternative Album. Inge Beckman, vocalist of SA electronic band LARK, during a performance. LARK is one of the many bands that will be performing at Spleshy Fen The band realised their vision of taking live 2012. Pic: Supplied performance further in the same year with the release of Dagger and a Feather, a live and Paul briefly appeared as LARK (Electro) to play darkness up against light and encouraged LARK’s return to the scene was welcomed by performance DVD recorded and filmed at Cape at OppiKoppi Music Festival and Grand West me to push the perimeters of my vocal range. old and new fans alike. Town’s BMW Pavilion featuring a string section Arena, showcasing material from the new album, Does your gran listen to your music? and a number of guest artists. and were met with an overwhelming response Have you done Splashy before? If so, what is She has before but she is 92 now so we mostly In 2007 and 2008, the band toured extensively, from their fans. your favourite Splashy memory? spend time listening to old jazz greats together. released music videos for their tracks Yes. The year we went up with COOKED IN My grandfather Beckmann passed away many ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Heroin Mary’. They were Band Members AFRICA we played a banging set. years ago but I see him as one of my spirit widely regarded by the press as being “one of Inge Beckmann - vocals, vocal FX guides and I often think of him when I write the most competitive acts to come out of South Paul Ressel - guitars, keys, production What are future plans and hopes for LARK? and perform. Africa”. They completed their second studio Simon ‘Fuzzy’ Ratcliffe - bass, daduk Releasing our third album Going is Struck in July album, Mouth of Me, which contained new and Sean Ou Tim - drums, percussion, sampling this year. How and why did LARK come about? reworked material from their debut EP of the Discography I approached Paul Rez to produce tracks for me same name. Mouth of Me (EP) - 2005 Feelings about the South African music scene? back in 2003 and LARK was conceived. In late 2008, after being signed as a producer Razbliuto - 2006 Some very good musicians surfacing at the to UK agency Z Management, Paul made the Mouth of Me - 2007 moment. It excites me. Are your songs about your personal life? decision to move to London. LARK took a Dagger and a Feather (Live DVD)- 2008 Some personal, some auto-writing, which I temporary sabbatical, returning in 2009 and V (EP)- 2010 What is your favourite LARK album and suppose is personal too, because it is a deeply again in 2010 to headline South Africa’s biggest Brave Remixes - 2011 song? embedded subconscious expression of my alternative music festival, RamFest. So far, it will have to Razbliuto for which we waking state. Also in 2010, LARK released V, which Q&A with LARK won a SAMA in 2007 - although the new included the single ‘Brave’. In early 2011, Italian How do you feel about your music being material is completely different and way more How was LARK first recognised? label Onion Records picked up and released described as experimental? mature and decisive. We have a lot of faith in I can’t remember. I suppose our track ‘Tricksy’ a remix EP for ‘Brave’, featuring the talents of That does not offend me in the slightest. the new album. It is tribal. (off our debut EP Mouth of Me) made people techno producers Haezer, Hateboss, ABCD, pay attention. We are also noted for doing Karetus and Geometry. Who are your musical influences? Do you feel the music industry in South things our way and having an explosive live Last year LARK started a new chapter. With Nothing too obvious, but two sure influences will Africa is benefiting from your style? Do you performance. Inge in CT and Paul in London, they spent have to be Amon Tobin, which ignited producer care? almost a year writing and recording their new Paul Rez’s love for electronica, and Shakespeare’s I think they are. We refuse to rest on our laurels Describe LARK in three words. studio album using Skype. In August 2011, Inge Sister (a goth-pop duo from the 80s) inspired me and we seldom fail to create truly fresh sounds. LOVE. BLOOD. TEARS. GUTS. (4 words) 11 20 March 2012 Politics When leaders Language can hurt and subvert forget By Marc Davies By Megan Ellis cornfully criticised as ‘communal tyranny’ and ‘the scourge of our times’, ‘political Every week I get an email from Avaaz. correctness’ is also a form of ‘social dementia’ com asking me to sign a petition against accordingS to British self-styled philosopher and some new injustice. This week, I watched online publisher, Philip Atkinson. social networks explode in support of The author ofThe Study of Our Decline has the Kony 2012 campaign. maintained that political correctness can be This has become the norm – thought of as an attempt to undermine individual people need to unite in order to get thought and attitudes. Professor Alan Kors of the governments to act on critical issues. But University of Pennsylvania also has a similar view, my question is, why? Why do we need to attributing the origins of political correctness pressure our leaders to do what is right? to Cultural Marxism. Kors co-established the Why do we have to revive and redirect Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, their moral compass? an organisation that aims to “defend and sustain Why is Kony 2012 even a valid individual rights” across US universities by campaign? The LRA has committed mass advocating against “subjective standards of rapes, abductions and a series of other political correctness”. war crimes for over two decades – why The notion of political correctness, which is does it take a few first-world people to outlined as ‘the avoidance of forms of expression Illustration: Katje Schreiber put pressure on governments to act that are perceived to marginalise or insult when the moral imperative to act has certain groups of people’, has arguably become a explicitly tries to avoid sexism, racism and so on is to Prof Dugmore. “Language can be far more existed all along? growing phenomenon in the ‘new’ South Africa an important social action and can actually make a subtle. Ideology is encoded in language and make I have to ask myself when of the since the early 1990s. The ‘rainbow nation’, as it is difference”. things that are not okay seem that way. It has to be people, by the people, for the people often named, has become world-renowned for its Whether political correctness can become carefully used to as to avoid subtle subjugating and stopped being the underpinning diversity of race groups, languages, cultures and excessive or detrimental to society has become exploiting,” he added. Terms such as ‘non-white’, of democracy. In 1996, the new beliefs. The legalisation of same-sex marriages in a contested point of debate in recent years, as according to Prof Dugmore, define people in terms Constitution of South Africa was South Africa in 2006 further promoted the country’s illustrated by Atkinson and Professor Kors. Dr of what they are not. “Such terms should not be supposed to be our moral compass – proclaimed constitutional philosophy of equality Hunt, however, claimed that political correctness used. ‘White’, in that context, is made normative and existing outside the limitations of our and celebration of diversity. Political correctness, has been mocked and taken to ridiculous extremes other races are rendered ‘different’ or deviating from prejudices and views. It gave everyone then, was soon presented by government and like suggesting that advocates of PC would prefer this norm,” he said. the right to life in circumstances in civil society as an important factor in generating ‘person hole cover’ instead of ‘manhole cover’. This, Prof Dugmore concluded that is extremely which many of us would have called for social cohesion and remedying the harm caused by in her opinion, undermines the entire project and important to evaluate the underlying ideologies of the death penalty. It gave equality and apartheid regime ideologies. implies that all attempts at using language that is words, emphasising that nobody should have ‘carte rights to everyone, not only the majority. Dr Sally Hunt, of the Department of English respectful are excessive and silly. blanche’ to say whatever they desire because of the It was made in a time of idealism, when Language and Linguistics, explained that the word Professor Harry Dugmore, of the School of possible implications of disempowerment. people and our leaders thought things ‘Bantu’, for example, was originally used as a neutral Journalism and Media Studies, discussed ‘politically Dr Sally Hunt is a lecturer in the Department of could be different - that they had to be term of reference for people of a particular language correct’ as a loaded term that has often been English Language and Linguistic, whose research different. group. “Because it was used by the apartheid associated with not having a sense of humour and interests include Corpus Linguistics, Critical Nowadays, we have to protest government to oppress African/Black people, it alignment with a left-wing agenda. On the issue of Discourse Analysis and Language and Gender. our government trying to change quickly developed negative associations and is no ‘oversensitivity’, Prof Dugmore said that people must Professor Harry Dugmore is the Director of the the Constitutional Court’s power. A longer PC at all,” she explained. Dr Hunt argued that take cognisance to offence and that labelling people Discovery Centre for Health Journalism at Rhodes 30-minute video on Kony illicits more the choices of language that people make not only as ‘oversensitive’ is unfair. “If individuals or groups University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies. response from leaders than the simple reflect the world as we see it, but also go some way are offended by the use of certain terms, then that In addition to consulting to NGOs, business and fact that the LRA’s crimes are a crime to perpetuating those views in that their constant offence is legitimate. Language can hurt and subvert institutions, Professor Dugmore is also one of the against humanity as a whole - in that repetition make them seem like common sense. In to a great extent,” he said. The way language is used creators of the internationally-renowned satirical they degrade our entire species with this vein, she maintained that “using language that also goes beyond group sensitivities, according cartoon strip Madam&Eve. their cruelty and inhumanity. Wars are not waged in the public interest, but rather for profit. During Evolutionist teaching forces educator to quit WWII, people rallied to stop the Nazis, not because they were conscripted, but By Tegan Phillips the legitimacy of the supposed secular nature because they believed in their cause. of the educational system. This has led to the And while the world still has numerous Biology educator has been forced to quit observation that students themselves are given groups which commit atrocities as those Afrom an upmarket school in Cape Town, very little say with regards to what they would seen in WWII, wars are waged for oil and reportedly for attempting to teach theories of like to be taught, which can be particularly commercial interest rather than to stop evolution and natural selection. disadvantageous for students with a particular these atrocities. The educator stated that while evolution interest in the Biological Sciences, and who I know morals change and evolve from forms an enormous component of the work feel they would benefit from learning about generation to generation, but the idea covered in the final Life Sciences exam, it evolutionist theories. that people should not be subjected remains fiercely contested by supporters of Ndizipho goes on to say that, regarding the to such cruelty is one which has always creationism within schools, with some refusing conflicting beliefs of students in the class “the prevailed as a basic rule the average to teach evolutionist theories or concepts that floor was never really opened for people to bring human being would agree to. Why then are derived from or linked to evolution (such it is human nature to get more satisfaction from facts in their religious views,” although in the context must we force our governments to care as plate tectonics). She added that others choose to as opposed to theories based on interpretations.” of certain African traditions the theories of evolution about these issues? Aren’t they part of teach it in a manner that entirely undermines its A Palaeontology professor from Stellenbosch seem to collide with ancestral beliefs. “You see, now the same human race as we? scientific validity. The school in question is effectively University has even suggested that the refusal to we are introducing a third belief system... It is a given I may seem idealistic regarding what I failing to give its students a holistic education based teach evolution as a part of the appropriate school that there would be conflicts when both the Bible think a government should do and be, on empirical data, ultimately discouraging the subjects can be compared with the supporting of and the evolution project [see] themselves as entirely but it’s a sad truth that our democratic practice of critical reasoning that will prove to be apartheid, where the youth are led to believe that righteous.” ideals are now a far-removed notion essential once students enter university. racial differences in human beings are the result of a Frank Rumboll, headmaster of a small, alternative rather than a reality. Maybe we need to Iphendule Ndzipho, a UCT student who wrote grand design, as opposed to an elaborate process of private school in Cape Town, scorned the incident consider just who we are electing and if Biology in Matric in 2010, believes that “Studying adaptation to various environmental conditions. as a worrying example of small-mindedness. they really do represent our interests. evolution in Biology at school is important. Viewing In many countries with multicultural roots, “People burned books because they were scared of Our leaders are in dire need of a things from different angles is always good because it particularly the US, legal battles have featured complexity,” he said. “The 21st century calls for a reconnection with their sense of makes one think more critically.” “Evolution provides constantly in the evolution versus creationism fearless exploration of as much that is complex as humanity. a more factual ‘story’ as to where we come from [and] argument. This often results in the questioning of possible.” 12 Politics Edition 2 Furore over ‘Kony 2012’ campaign By Marc Davies The financial dealings of Invisible Children have also gained negative attention after it was revealed that only 37.14% of midst exponential growth in worldwide support, the $8,894,360 in expenses was spent on programmes in central Kony 2012 campaign has suffered severe criticism for Africa in 2011. The remaining funds have been used to generate its alleged ulterior motives, financial structuring and awareness programmes, media and advertising, as well as just tiesA to anti-gay Christian funders. Invisible Children, the ‘non- under $1.5 million – 16.24% of the budget – on “management profit organisation’ that created the campaign against Kony, has and general expenses”. This has raised concerns about the released a second video defending its position and refuting these profitability of the campaign. accusations. The charity, in response to concerns about its finances, The initial half-hour film, titled KONY 2012, garnered over 70 responded that it is independently audited every year and million views in its first week on YouTube, making it the fastest- is in full compliance with its non-profit status. Financial growing viral video in online history. The video documents dealings between Invisible Children and the National Christian the origins of the campaign against Joseph Kony, the leader of Foundation (NCF) have also raised uncertainties about the a Ugandan guerrilla group called the Lord’s Resistance Army campaign. The NCF and two prominent Californian activists (LRA). Kony has been accused of orchestrating the abduction that contributed to the Kony 2012 campaign have also been of over 66 000 children in Uganda as well as the displacement influential opponents of same-sex marriage in the US. The NCF of about two million people since 1986. The campaign aims to has raised funds for anti-gay rights groups and opponents, ‘make Kony famous’ and ultimately culminate in his trial before including one a group named Harvest Evangelism which works The Kony 2012 campaign poster. The campaign’s central aim is the International Criminal Court in the Hague for vicious crimes to bring LRA leader Joseph Kony to justice in the International with a Ugandan author in promoting the anti-homosexuality bill to humanity, among other charges. Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. Pic: Flickr in Uganda. Invisible Children responded that it is not anti-gay According to The Telegraph, Dr Beatrice Mpora, the director of and has attracted investors and supporters that sit on “different a community health organisation in Uganda, said the short film Kagumire said people should not attempt to tell the story of sides of the aisle” on this and many other issues. The charity’s is partly inaccurate. “It can cause more problems than help us,” Africans as hopeless and voiceless because this implies that the Vice President of business operations, Chris Sarette, said that she said. Mpora claimed that Kony’s LRA had not been present power lies in America and furthers the narrative structures of Invisible Children sees people as people, adding that his core since 2006, adding that people are now living in peace. power that place Africans in a helpless position. “You should not work in the organisation is one of the reasons he decided to Rosebell Kagumire, a prominent Ugandan journalist, echoed be telling my story if you don’t believe that I also have the power ‘come out’ as a gay man. this claim saying that the film paints a picture of Uganda to change what is going on,” she said. The Kony 2012 campaign encourages Americans, and seven years back, which is highly irresponsible. She further Kagumire suggested that more careful representation of Africa individuals worldwide, to contribute by plastering Kony 2012 commented in her YouTube response that it simplifies the issue is necessary and that African intervention should come first. posters in their cities and towns on 20 April to spur further and implies that Africans are hopeless in times of conflict. “The Invisible Children claimed that it does not wish to try to “save action from the US government. Invisible Children has explicitly situation has tremendously improved in northern Uganda. Africa”, but rather wants Western youths to “do more than stated that 2012 must be the year in which Joseph Kony is People sleep at home, children are going to school… the watch”. It also claims that over 95% of the charity’s leadership brought to book. situation currently on the ground is not seen in the video,” she and staff are ‘on-the-ground’ Ugandans and are at the forefront Track further developments using #StopKony and #Kony2012 said. of programme design and implementation. on Twitter. Chinese transforming economy to avoid collapse By Cindy Archillies policy changes, financial regulation, monetary policy he World Bank and Chinese government and exchange rate regimes Tresearchers have warned that the world’s would need to be well most populous country may soon face a financial coordinated in order for meltdown if economic reforms are not instituted. future balanced growth to Despite average annual growth rates of over 10% take place. Economists have for the past 30 years, analysts have predicted that warned that this proposed China’s current export and investment-driven transition will not be easy development model could halve the country’s for China. growth rate in the next twenty years because of its Professor Arthur Webb, supposed unsustainability. Dean of Commerce and The People’s Bank of China (PBC) has Economics lecturer, believes recommended that the country’s financial system that the ability to generate be opened up rapidly so as to avoid an undesirable savings is in itself a virtue outcome for the economy. Three stages of reform for the world. “One has to be have been identified by the PBC. The first stage, very careful when making which is expected to be implemented in the next predictions [about economic three years, is to increase Chinese investments collapse]. People are fond in foreign nations. The contraction of Western of using scare tactics and banks and businesses would become a “strategic there is always a lot of doom opportunity” for China’s international expansion and gloom around,” warned A textile worker in China’s Jiangsu Province. The World Bank and other economic institutions have predicted that as space for growth increases. The second stage Webb. He believes there is China may experience an economic implosion if reforms are not instituted. Pic: Xu Congjun/AP aims to increase foreign lending of China’s cause for optimism, saying currency, the Renminbi. The third, long-term stage “We don’t know what new hopes to encourage foreigners to invest in Chinese technologies will develop over the next twenty economists should not make hasty assumptions of a very different kind to what has been seen property, stocks and bonds to generate a surge in years which will open up investment.” based on the “occurrence of an uncertain future before. He contends that the potential difficulty is investment. Free convertibility of the Renminbi Gcinekile Mpanza, BA Law and Politics graduate, event” as changes in technology, globalisation and in fact a political one. “A high growth rate is seen would also need to be taken into account. believes that the dilemma is that America’s free- other factors continue to alter expectations at ever- as a solution to poverty,” he said, adding that the The Chinese economy has an annual gross market capitalist system had, for a long time, been increasing rates. slowing growth rate would have a lot of socio- savings rate of more than $3 trillion, which universally accepted as the best system for healthy Similarly, Professor Gavin Keeton of the political consequences. exceeds the gross savings in the United States by growth, and that it has recently been challenged Economics Department says that economic crises According to the CIA World Factbook, China more than 50%, according to the United States’ by an alternative Chinese approach. Communist are very difficult to forecast, commenting that very had a real GDP growth rate of 9.5% (adjusted Financial Times. Full integration of these savings China presently has the world’s second-strongest few people saw the US financial crisis looming. for inflation) in 2011, placing them th6 in global is bound to have enormous effects globally. economy. This has created a debate around the “What I can say is that those predicting a crisis rankings. China trailed behind countries such as Implementation of the proposed reforms may benefits of free-market models and the incidence will be in a minority-but at the same time nobody Qatar with 18.7% and Ghana with 13.5%. South render China’s financial institutions the largest of democracy as opposed to single-party, long- likes to predict a crisis,” Keeton said. He went on Africa was ranked 108th with 3.4% growth and the in the world within 10 years. Among other term rule. Mpanza, however, strongly feels that to say that if a crisis were to happen, it would be US a low 159th with 1.5%. 13 20 March 2012 Politics Violent protests prevent opening of Maldivian parliament

By Tegan Phillips within schools and other institutions in the aheed Hassan, newly appointed president of direction of liberalism. the Islamic state of the Maldives, was unable to The shift resulted in open parliament in early March due to violent increased concerns protests.W Supporters of the previous ruling party called for his that the Maldivian resignation followed by snap elections. Large crowds holding population might turn to flags bearing the Maldivian National Party (MDP) logo fought Gayoom for a return to against riot police while attempting to block the entrance to conservative governance. parliament. MDP members of parliament removed Hassan’s Gayoom’s authoritarian seat, preventing him from making his inaugural speech inside government, however, is parliament. renowned for its alleged Former Vice President Hassan was sworn in as president in human rights abuses and early February after the resignation of Mohamed Nasheed, corruption. former president and leader of the MDP. Nasheed’s decision There have also been to indefinitely detain a popular Chief Justice on a corruption concerns regarding the charge in mid-January sparked public outrage. Nasheed is impact of the country’s internationally recognised for ending the 30-year rule of political unrest on authoritarian Maumoon Gayoom as the first democratically- tourism, as tropical elected president of the Maldives in 2008. It is alleged that holiday resorts as well Gayoom was forced to step down after being held at gunpoint as cruise and dive trips in a coup d’état organised by opposition leaders and enforced generate roughly 90% of by a mutinous military. He is now calling for elections to be the country’s economy. Waheed Hassan, President of the Maldives. Pic: Flickr held at the earliest date possible to re-establish democratic A further blow to the governance. Hassan, however, claims that the country is not economy may be critical, considering the country’s 2010 say that the recent political events are “awful” and that she was currently in a position to hold ‘free and fair’ elections, and economic crisis – another issue for which Nasheed was deemed in favour of Nasheed. “He did a lot of good in a short time, proposes instead a government of national unity until the responsible by citizens. Maldivian hotel manager Abdul Salam but he wasn’t perfect. The way they went about getting him out national elections scheduled for late 2013. comments that he is satisfied with the political improvements, was wrong and I hope they do have new elections soon as they The new president has already appointed a new minister of but believes the return of economic stability will “take time should let the people decide... it is the best way.” foreign affairs, Dr Abdul Abdulla, who is a representative of because now the government doesn’t have funds”. The United Nations, as with the United State and UK, has the recently-formed Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM). Michelle Flake, a British travel agent who has lived in the implored Hassan, Nasheed and their respective supporters The PPM, incidentally, is led by former dictator Gayoom. One Maldives for over a decade, believes that the impact on tourism to agree to talks so that a process of negotiation might begin. of the factors that contributed to the increasing unpopularity is likely to be minimal, stating that so long as tourists “don’t All attempts at mediation and compromise have failed thus of Nasheed before his downfall was his progressive approach need to come into Malé [the capital], they are not affected at far and President Hassan has not yet indicated plans to open to the development of the Maldives, reforming procedure all. The resorts are all functioning as normal.” She goes on to parliament. Masithethe – Let us talk subordinate to this priority. South Africa, by contrast, has implemented a land reform process that has operated largely as relocation in reverse. Land reform has been primarily about financial compensation for urban restitution claims and the return of land for both restitution and redistribution without adequate state RESPONSE support. This lack of support is manifested in a number of ways, from the lack of a coherent Prof. Monty J. Roodt responded to an article published in Activate Ed. 1 28 Feb 2012 rural development plan that prioritises the establishment of agro-industries and promotes rural-urban linkages, integration of Land and agrarian transformation in South Africa: beyond the impasse. land reform into municipal planning The argument around land reform in South Africa is characterised as much by the degree processes, to underresourced provincial of strong emotion generated, as by the confusion around who owned what land when. The agricultural departments unable to offer emphasis on historical rights has to a large extent hampered the development of a dynamic meaningful post-settlement support and coherent rural development policy that will bring about agrarian transformation with the (agricultural extension, market research, achievement of equity and socio-economic development as its central tenet. credit provision, etc.). Connie Mulder’s short-sighted comments in parliament and the emotive responses of his What South Africa needs is a critics have only added to the hot air around the land issue. A brief comment is necessary to coherent policy that addresses agrarian show not only the limitations of the who-owned-what-when historical argument, but also transformation and overcomes the the lack of political insight into what is best for his followers and South Africans as a whole. If bottlenecks created by the willing seller/ Mulder’s arguments that Africans have no claim to the Western and Northern Cape because willing buyer approach (such as inflated white settlers occupied them first are entertained, then the corollary would be true and land prices), a well-resourced National no whites would have any claim on the rest of South Africa as black South Africans clearly Department of Agriculture and Rural occupied them before the arrival of the settlers. Tell that to the Boere folk! Development, and a commitment to As a country we would do well to take a leaf out of the German book. After the demise training young, especially black farmers of East Germany and reunification, a process of restitution for land and other economic in business as well as agricultural skills assets was put in place for losses suffered both by Jews during the Nazi period, as well to spearhead the transformation of the as by Germans during the Communist period. In spite of the strong emotions attached countryside. to both sets of dispossessions and the persecutions suffered by the victims, a pragmatic Monty J. Roodt is an Associate Professor approach towards restitution was adopted. It was agreed that in the post-reunification phase, in the Department of Sociology at economic growth and job creation were the prime objectives, and that restitution had to be Rhodes University. Prof. Monty J. Roodt. Pic: Supplied 14 Politics Edition 2 From controversial to just plain crazy: the world’s lesser-known groups By Megan Ellis

While every social movement and organisation seems to have their marketing on point - whether their strategy is Facebook or saving face - there are those which have always flown under the radar. Activate has found some groups which you may not have been aware of, from the morally controversial to borderline science fiction.

The North American Man/Boy Love Association The Church of Satan The Alcor Life Extension Foundation Despite the fact that South Park parodied the organisation, Despite the common images of devil-worshippers and Alcor is a company which advocates life extension through NAMBLA has gone largely unnoticed by the global troubled teens that are conjured when Satanism is cryonics – i.e. preserving humans in liquid nitrogen after community. When in the limelight, however, the group stirs mentioned, the Church of Satanism is an organisation legal death in order to restore them to life in the future, up controversy and criticism for its philosophy. NAMBLA which promotes the idea of the ‘carnal self’. The group does when technology has advanced enough. Cryonics differs supports the idea that adult-child sexual relationships not worship a deity or supernatural entities, but rather from cryogenics, which involves the study and production are not always harmful to children and that consensual uses the idea of Satan as an embodiment of ideas that of extremely low temperatures. In 2011, the company sexual relationships between adults and children should are oppositional and adversarial to the norm. Humans are had 110 patients in cryopreservation. Alcor also preserves be legalised. The organisation has been accused of being seen as the same as any other animal and the organisation pets whose owners request their cryopreservation. an underground paedophile network, as well as a training denounces the idea of ‘sins’ which lead to physical, mental or Many patients ensure this preservation process upon ground for sex offenders. Despite this, its status as an emotional gratification. Despite common misconceptions of their deaths by naming Alcor as a beneficiary in their life unincorporated association and laws protecting freedom of Satanism, the group outlines murder and harm to children as insurance. To date, the company has not revived any of its speech have prevented the group’s shutdown. The group forbidden. However, destruction and cruelty are encouraged patients, with its oldest patient being 101 years old. is becoming increasingly isolated from LGBTI organisations when members feel others are imposing themselves who once supported NAMBLA during the sexual revolution. unwantedly. 15 20 March 2012 Photo Feature Know your meat By Kayla Roux Editor for The Independent. Overgrazing is depleting our natural forestation and cows also soak up vast osedale Abattoir, situated on a dusty farm amounts of water. Burning fuel to produce fertiliser, road outside of Grahamstown, is a typical produce meat and transport it produces 9% of all South African abattoir. From hamburgers to emissions of carbon dioxide, the most common theR beef strips in your stir-fry, much of it comes from greenhouse gas. Manure from cows also emits more places like this. Cows reared on the farm go through than one third of the world’s total methane emissions, the production process in about 15 minutes and are which warm the world 20 times faster than carbon slaughtered, skinned and cut up into the beef you dioxide. Fortunately, many South African meat buy in shops. Rosedale sends most of its meat to Port producers are forced to keep their meat free of Elizabeth, but Grahamstown is supplied by abattoirs hormones and antibiotics, which makes our meat that are much the same as this one. healthier than that found in some other countries. The meat production process is one many people Choosing food that is produced locally decreases aren’t familiar with, and some may cringe to connect the environmental impact of your lunch, and the steak on their plates with the animals they see working out how much of what kind of food you eat grazing in green fields on long drives through the can greatly lessen the burden your diet has on your Eastern Cape. Taking responsibility for what you eat natural surroundings. “Eating takes place inescapably starts with an intimate knowledge of the processes in the world, so how we eat determines how the that bring that food to you. world is used,” quipped American author, farmer and In the wake of Rhodes’ Environmental Week there cultural critic Wendall Berry. are many considerations concerning the food we Rhodes has its very own ‘Know Your Food’ project, eat, how we eat it and where we get it from. The for which an inter-disciplinary task team has contribution cows make to greenhouse gas emissions researched the environmental impacts that various is larger than that of all the transport we use put dietary options have. Visit http://www.ru.ac.za/ together. “Livestock are responsible for 18% of the rugreen/projects/knowyourfood/ for a detailed table greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more containing information on the carbon footprint of than cars, planes and all other forms of transport everything from veggies and milk, to fish and cheese. put together,” writes Geoffrey Lean, Environmental

Left: Justin le Roux, owner of Rosedale Abattoir outside Grahamstown, watches as cattle are driven forward from the crush in which they are kept to the pen where he will stun them and send them into the abattoir to be processed for commercial sale. Eastern Cape, 28 February, 2012. Below: Cow heads hang against the wall in the Rosedale Abattoir cool room after being hosed off. 28 February, 2012.Pics: Anton Scholtz 16 Photo Feature Edition 2

1 [1] The cattle are lined up inside the crush where they are kept before being slaugh- tered. The animals seem to be sensing the fear which the animals ahead of them are experiencing, and resist being driven forward with all their strength, 28 February, 2012.

[2] The captive bolt pistol (or bolt gun) which is used to stun cattle and render them unconscious before being slaughtered at Rosedale Abattoir, outside Grahamstown. The bolt penetrates the skull of the animal and forces it to lose consciousness, but ensures that the brain stem remains intact, which effectively means that the heart continues to beat and so minimises the risk of damage to the meat due to internal bleeding, 28 February, 2012.

[3] Justin Le Roux prepares to stun one of the cows after it has been driven forward from the crush where the cattle are kept. The cows are stunned using a captive bolt gun, in which a bolt is set off by a trigger pull and is propelled forward by the discharge of a blank .22 round ignited by a firing pin. The bolt is instantly withdrawn back into the gun. 28 February, 2012. Pics: Anton Scholtz

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4 7 [4] A cow looks through a gap in the door of the crush to the place where it will be stunned and sent through a door-type mechanism straight into the abattoir. After the animals are stunned, they are immediately skinned, gutted and prepared for commercial sale. 28 February, 2012.

[5] After the animals have been stunned and roll through the door from the pen outside into the abattoir, they are skinned and the heads and feet are cut off the carcasses. 28 February, 2012.

[6] After the heads are cut off, they are cleaned of excess skin and hung on meat hooks against the cool room wall. 28 February, 2012.

[7] The carcasses are gutted and then cut into smaller sections using a large mechanical saw. This makes it easier for the meat to be processed further. 28 February, 2012.

[8] The internal organs of a cow hang from a hook in the Rosedale Abattoir cool room. The abattoir uses all parts of the animals which they slaughter so that nothing goes to waste. 28 February, 2012. Pics: Anton Scholtz 8 18 Comment & Analysis Edition 2

The essential pain in the arse

By Brian Garman

In a recent edition of Activate, an article that was intended to be a light-hearted look at how to behave in Grahamstown’s clubs became the centre of a controversy around rape. How does this happen? How does an article that was to meant fulfil one task end up being understood in a completely different way? A good place to start figuring out how this happens, is to look at the idea of ‘meaning’. The first thing to be aware of is that nothing has inherent meaning. For example, the colour red is often associated with danger, even though you are no more likely to get attacked by the colour red than by the colour green. That red is associated with danger is a meaning that has been constructed as being so and is so reinforced through our education, our upbringing, etc., that we come to understand it as obvious or natural. This exemplifies how we negotiate life – we Stabley Kidd House performs one of their songs during serenades in O-week, 2012. Pic: Robynne Peatfield manage our lives as a complex series of experiences to which we ascribe meaning and respond with what we would consider By Luke Cadden appropriate action. But the manner in which Gerhardus de Lange, we interpret these experiences will depend nitiations and BA 2 on our ethnic, cultural, religious, social, orientations can Singing for sex? My serenades educational and economic backgrounds. be a memorable experience is a mash- So, different people may interpret exactly experienceI for some, while a nightmare for others. Rhodes encourages up of positive and negative experiences. Firstly, I think that the idea of the same experience quite differently. And in a friendly, non-discriminatory orientation for first-years in the form of serenades is a good one because it builds character and it also creates new the same way, these experiences influence serenades. Last year, serenades reached a new level of participation and friendships and fosters a sense of unity. The bad thing about serenades, how we as media producers construct evolved into the highly successful “RU Jamming” event which is set to especially in male residences, is the overwhelming amount of sexual meaning through the texts we create – which become an annual tradition. However, the recent controversy surrounding connotations that I sometimes felt ashamed to utter… But it opened a new explains how different newspapers can write an anonymous letter that was sent to the office of the Dr Vivian de Klerk, world to me for which I am grateful for. wildly divergent interpretations about the the Dean of Students, has sparked a debate about the nature of these ‘sexy’ same event. serenades. The first-year writer expressed how “uncomfortable” she was at Kenneth Mlambo, BJourn 1 But it gets more complicated than that. having to perform in front of male residences, and how the early morning Some people say the serenades were not fun because they had to wake up Meaning is not only constructed by those wake-up calls negatively impacted her first week of learning. Students early. Some of us were used to the holidays, where we would wake up at who produce media – it is also constructed by with similar stories have come forward, expressing their concerns about 10h00… The idea of serenades was good because you got to meet the girls, those who consume (or who “decode”) media. the way in which this early-morning initiation rite is conducted – they so when you see them you can say, ‘Hey you, I met you at serenades’. So This involves not just simple recognition raised questions, for example, surrounding the heteronormative nature basically, we can build relationships. and comprehension of what a text ‘says’ but of the serenades. Regardless of one’s upbringing, it can be agreed that also the interpretation and evaluation of its the theme of the serenades has always followed a flirtatious format and Zandile Ramalohlanye, LLB Masters meaning. So no matter how hard we work at often involves sexual innuendos – some more overt than others. Couldn’t Serenades are the introduction to a new chapter in a student’s life. They it as journalists we will never create a text that it be argued that we see similar if not worse things in television and break the ice; put you in a different space and a different mind-set. In my has a single meaning. music? Activate sought the views of students on campus on the first-hand residence, we tried to encourage students to participate as much as possible. According to those who know these things, experience of serenades. From what I saw they enjoyed it. It’s a memory that some feel they will you get three types of readers: those who fully treasure about O-Week. I feel it’s a great way to get the students acquainted accept and reproduce the preferred reading Kelsey Stewart, BA 2 with the environment and most importantly with their fellow resmates. I and assume that the meaning is natural and I think that if conducted appropriately and properly supervised by the personally enjoyed serenades in my first year and secretly wished we could transparent (your dream audience). A second house committee, the serenades can be a wonderful way to meet new have them in the years that followed. is a reader who broadly accepts the preferred people. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience last year. reading, but sometimes resists and modifies Thendo Makhuvha, BSC 3 it in a way which reflects her own position Rumbidzai Mzilah , BA 1 It was a positive experience because as a first-year, it is a way of meeting in relation to the text. The third (and most I was on a bus for 48 hours and I got here on a Sunday and the first thing new people around campus and meeting other first-years as well, getting interesting in the context of this column) is I had to do was serenade practice. I didn’t have time to shower, unpack you to settle in and to be comfortable on campus. You might meet someone the reader whose social situation places them and was being repeatedly told to practise. That was OK for while but by who you will be in the same class with. Some guys, however, take it too far in an oppositional position in relation to the the next morning they were forcing people to wake up. I was so tired that but generally from my view - there was not any form of sexual harassment. text. This is, more often than not, a position I slept through one and my sub-warden gave me hell for it. She told me The songs we were singing were fine; the attire we were wearing was fine. which deliberately rejects the preferred that being tired was not a good enough reason to miss serenades. I spoke I don’t understand where this whole stigma of serenades being a form of reading, bringing to bear an alternative frame to my warden, though, and she said that serenades were not compulsory. I sexual harassment comes from. I think it is ridiculous to be honest and I see of reference (radical, feminist, etc.) in order to thought you weren’t supposed to do things you didn’t want to do! I feel like it as a form of attack on tradition. It has been working for years now. make a point. These are the people who grow serenades is one of those things that you don’t have to do if you don’t want old and write letters to the editor! to. Abram Rankapole, BCom 4 But joking aside, while these kinds of readers I think serenades are positive; they give first-years a great exposure to are a pain in the arse for journalists, we need Zama Quma, BSS 3 varsity life. They are given the opportunity to meet people, prior to lecture them. Without them we would become too I think [serenades] are important, not only to help you meet other people attendance. So by the time they get to lectures they already know who they comfortable in unquestioned ideological but to present you with the opportunity to make friends. They break that can be friends with or who they want to sit with. Some might even meet positions. As infuriating as it is, if we are not awkwardness which always exists when people aren’t familiar with one their potential girlfriends through serenades. So serenades overall have constantly nudged out of our places of safety, another. So, they are a stepping stone to making mates. positive influence as it makes new students feel welcome. It sort of bridges we never develop. that gap between high school and varsity. 19 20 March 2012 Comment & Analysis

By Kelly Kilian affection it’s fine. For example, I don’t mind pecks on the cheek and holding hands. If it gets too sexual, then it’s s much as you love your significant other, not acceptable. At social places on campus like the Kaif cavorting in public places can become Get a room? it’s okay, but in libraries and lecture venues it’s a no-no. uncomfortable for those people around you. MostA people tolerate a few kisses or lingering hugs, but when is nothing wrong with that. I personally support it and think Silvanus Welcome, PDEM it gets to the point where they need to look away it can get everyone should be able to engage in such things without any It really depends on the crowd, but I think as the couple pretty awkward. You are most likely to find such overzealous shame. People should just tolerate the way others express their you need to be aware of the other people around you because displays of affection in the early hours of the morning at a love. I am for it! kissing might be okay for you but for a third party walking past dance club, but copious amounts of saliva and wandering it might look disgusting. hands find their way out into the sunshine too. Ajibola Amzat, MA Journ While passersby could find such behaviour inappropriate, People have the right to express their feelings, but there Ruth Kruger, ESL 3 certain couples believe that there is absolutely nothing to be should be a space for the style of those emotions or feelings. It depends on the context and the sensibilities of the people ashamed about. It’s not always easy to turn a blind eye to the Using the public space to express that kind of intimacy may you’re with, but in general I’d say share the love. mating rituals of others, especially when they happen right in indirectly offend other people in that space who may be front of you, but how much is too much? Whether you think sensitive. Luvuyo Leon, LLB 2 it’s cute, crass or cringe-worthy, public displays of affection If both partners feel comfortable about it, it is their choice. (or PDAs) and their reception depend on the situation and Nicolain Shabangu, BCOM 3 For me I do not like public affection – I like to keep my private the company. So who’s big on showing the love and who I think people should be real and express themselves in the life in private. prefers keeping it behind closed doors? Activate sought your way they want to. However, I think that it is not moral for views. people to act over-affectionate and they should realise that Isaac Chikura, BA 1 their individual behaviour affects society. I feel that public displays of affection are not positive things Treasure Tshabalala, LLB Masters because it’s public indecency, polluting people’s eyes. It’s I feel that public displays of affection are a means through Ndumi Ndlovu, BCOM 3 something that should be done behind closed doors – not which people can express their love for one another and there When I see people who are going out and publicly displaying outside. It makes people look cheap, if you know what I mean.

By Kate Sedgwick just outside of Grahamstown. It’s a great way to unwind after a hard et’s be honest – Rhodes students day of lectures and the dam is really Ldo have a bit of a reputation when Sober shenanigans picturesque. Being a first-year, I have it comes to drinking. Some students also managed to meet a lot of new claim that there really is nothing much people with the same interest, which else to do for fun in Grahamstown, was a great introduction to Rhodes. other than getting a little silly at the Rat, Friars, Pirates and the rest of Michelle Blankenberg, BSC 2 them. In fact, we are said to be the It really depends on who you are third-highest beer-drinking university with. You can enjoy a day at the pool in the world. There is no doubt that as or go and visit your friends in digs. I students, we are typecast (with good really enjoy walking in the Botanical reason) as people who love a night out Gardens, going to the Dam and driving on the town, socialising and catching up to The Monument and watching the up with friends over a couple of sun set. drinks. However, this is not everyone’s idea of fun. With many different Gabi Masson, BA 1 societies and clubs on campus, drama Being a Rhodes student, I would productions, restaurants, sports, and definitely say that Grahamstown has beautiful hidden places, we found out a huge drinking culture. Personally I what your favourite ways of spending don’t enjoy going out and drinking so I free time in Grahamstown are. What joined GameSoc, as this way it gives me else can Rhodents do for fun? How something to do on week nights and seriously are we seen to be living in a I can have just as much fun as those ‘drinking hole’? Activate sought your who do go out. On Wednesday nights views. we play war games and on Thursday nights we play board games which can Azola Cakata, BPharm 3 go on until 22h30 or sometimes even I love to watch movies. We’re never Contrary to popular belief, there are many Rhodes students who don’t drink alcohol and have just as much fun 00h00. I really enjoy these evenings as as those who do. Pic: Alexa Sedgwick short of excellent films to watch on I have met some really amazing people Friday nights. Grahamstown also has amazing restaurants – I Ndumiso Ndlow, BCom 3 who are so genuine and just want us to enjoy ourselves in a enjoy going to 137 and La Trattoria for dinner with friends Personally I enjoy having picnics at the Botanical Gardens safe environment. every now and then. I also sleep a lot! Those three things on Saturday or Sunday afternoons where I can just chill with are working for me right now. What is also really pretty is friends. Alcohol does not have to be involved to have a good Synodia Katsvairo, LLB 3 driving to The Monument and chilling there and looking over time, and this is a great way to catch up with friends in a really I love hanging out with my friends and seeing what the Grahamstown – it’s really beautiful. different environment. Rhodes societies have to offer. I enjoy mostly church-related things and hanging out with the church group. I belong to Pedro Fernandes, BA 3 David Fuller, English Honours Christ Embassy and they organise beach trips and braais The Grey Dam is a place which is just outside of A great way for students to spend their time is at the poetry quite often. Some societies at Rhodes, like BLW (Believers Grahamstown but it is still in walking distance. This is the evenings at Café Devine in New Street. These take place on Love Word) also do really cool things, like camping and perfect place for escapism and my friends and I often go there the last Friday of every month at about 18h00. I have found weekend trips out of town. We basically just like to spend time to enjoy a braai and just chill. these evenings to be very enriching, and the material is always together, spreading the word of God, watching DVDs, singing, varied. Some people prefer to recite their own poems while worshipping and things like that. Lauren Jean Connor, BA 3 others enjoy the improvisation section. These evenings allow I am very involved in the Drama Department and it always for interesting discussions where one can simply read poetry Pamela Bakasa, BA 2 has some sort of show or production on which is open to the for the love of it. Even though Pirates is one of the places where everyone public, allowing students to leave the drinking scene for a goes to drink and have a good time, there is the Tuesday night while and focus on something more cultural. On days when Warren Mayer, BA 1 2-for-1 pizza special which my friends and I really enjoy. Being you just want to have some sort of entertainment and fun, it Grahamstown definitely has the whole ‘drinking hole’ the middle of the week, everyone just feels like a relaxed night, is really great to just go and see a production, and this is also stereotype, but there are a lot of other activities people can so this is the perfect place to go and enjoy a cheap meal in a lot more intimate and cheaper than just sitting and drinking do to avoid this. Besides drinking, I also enjoy canoeing – a the company of your friends. We have made it a tradition that at a bar. sport that I’ve been doing since I was 11-years-old. Now that we try to go every second week or so because it’s something I’ve come to Rhodes, I’ve began training at the Settlers Dam different. We don’t need to drink to have a good time. 20 Comment & Analysis Edition 2

Dr Anita Unni, Councelling Psychologist. By Alexa Sedgwick I cannot imagine a man MA Councelling Psychology, PhD being overpowered like that. (Rhodes) t is sometimes assumed that Sexual abuse Men are viewed as quite when you hear of a person overpowering themselves Emerging evidence indicates that men being taken advantage of on and more sexually driven- in South Africa are also affected by sexual aI drunken night on the town, that more so than girls. Perhaps assault, though not in the same way as this person must be a woman. and the male it could happen if a man women. Christofides et al. (2003), in a This is not always so. was incredibly drunk but I study investigating the state of sexual The Sexual Offences just can’t imagine it. Males assault services for women in South Africa, Amendment Bill reviewed generally are more in control examined South African Police Services the definition of rape in 2007 myth of situations like that. I have rape statistics for 2000 and found 52 550 to include men, so that it was heard stories about men women reported rape or attempted rape applicable to “all forms of sexual penetration being taken advantage of, but I don’t see how they but 1307 adult men had also reported without consent, irrespective of gender”. However, can be forced to have sex with a girl if they don’t want sexual victimisation. Jewkes, Sikweyiya, the word “penetration” meant that men who to. I see it more as girls manipulating them, rather Morrell and Dunkle (2009), interviewed were raped by women were not protected by this than actually raping them. Girls raping guys? I can’t 1 738 men as part of a study focusing on law. The Bill has since been redrafted to ensure see that. rape perpetration by men against female that it is gender neutral, and includes any act of a intimate partners and non-partners. About sexual nature that is perpetrated against someone Larissa Klazinga, Student Services Officer and 16.3% of men in the study admitted to without their consent. However, the belief that organiser of the Silent Protest raping a female non-partner but about women cannot commit rape against men is still The Sexual Offences Amendment Bill was enacted 3% of men also admitted to raping other widely accepted. In 2011, Rhodes activists staged a specifically to broaden the definition of rape to men and boys. Similar findings attesting to protest called the Masithetheni Protest for males. include non-consensual oral and anal penetration rape against men has been documented This happened shortly after the official Silent without reference to the sex of the complainant. Men in popular media. Despite this, extremely Protest. The Masithetheni Protest was aimed at and women, girls and boys can be sexually assaulted few South African studies have focused on encouraging male survivors to speak out against and raped. The Silent Protest specifically highlights the circumstances surrounding the sexual sexual assault and giving men a voice in the issue. gender-based violence against women, since this assault of men and the experience of this Is it physically possible for a man to be taken is by far the most commonly committed form of type of trauma for the victim, thereby advantage of by a woman? How relevant is this rape. Last year the Dean of Students Office worked contributing to a significant gap in the to the common social stereotypes about men and with activists to organise a protest that specifically knowledge base. The paucity of studies masculinity? Activate sought the views of both men highlighted male rape. We chose to address the on male survivors is related to dominant and women on campus. issues separately, not because we believe that one rape myths including the assumption issue is more serious than another, but because we that: “men cannot be forced to have sex Audrey Zwinavashe, BSS 3 acknowledged the reality that survivors were likely against their will”; “men are less affected Being a Law student, I know that male rape to be perceived differently. The issues faced by male by sexual assault than women”’; “men are exists. There are situations where men are raped rape survivors deserve to be discussed in their own in a constant state of readiness to accept by women, but I feel that if a man does get raped it Male protestors walk down High Street during the right. any sexual opportunity”; “a man is able is much harder for him to come forward because 2011 Slutwalk in Grahamstown. Pic: Niamh Walsh- to defend himself against sexual assault” many people would not believe him. At the same Vorster Tristan de Robillard, BA 2 and; “only gay men are raped”. These myths time, when you look at the dynamics between men I think that it’s safe to say that men can be stem from gender-based ideologies (i.e. and women who are taken advantage of, I feel that we feel that it’s what people do. I lost my virginity at taken advantage of, and I feel that people do tend traditional notions of masculinity and men are usually more forward. In the clubs for a young age to someone who was older than me. We to exaggerate the helplessness of women and femininity) in terms of which the traits example, you don’t usually see girls buying guys were both teenagers but she saw me as a conquest or domineering power of men. That is not to say associated with being a man include drinks – I know I am generalising but it is usually a challenge that she had to win. I didn’t even want to that I do not take the rape of women seriously, aggression, virility, dominance, power the guys who encourage girls to drink and dance. In have sex initially, but slowly my pubescent hormones because I certainly do. I think it is one of the most and control while the traits associated my experience, it’s always been like that. Are guys took over and it happened. It meant nothing. I’m sure depraved crimes out there, but I also believe that with being a woman include weakness, in the same position as girls, if they are taken home we’ve all had that feeling of ‘Why the hell did I just the victims become more victimised with time, and chastity and submissiveness. The and potentially taken advantage of? I don’t think do that?’. There have been other times in which I’ve the perpetrators become scapegoats. While women sexual assault of men challenges these so. Men are physically stronger, and can overpower felt that if I don’t go through with it I may actually get are the majority in rape cases, it is not only women dominant constructions of gender and tipsy girls much more easily than a girl could rape a hurt physically, emotionally or both. Guys too can who are raped and women are not only the victims understandings of victimisation, thus guy on her own. Of the cases I’ve heard, it is usually find themselves waking up after a heavy night next to in these scenarios. People forget how powerful it is contributing to the neglect of this category a gang-rape, with many girls in order to balance someone whom they don’t recall. We get spiked too! to be accused of rape in the public eye, and not to of trauma. Emerging evidence from the physical power, or an older woman raping a It’s not fun. sound callous in any way, but there are some cases in international researchers has revealed much younger guy. It could also be a question of which the accusation of rape (whether false or true) that men become the victims of rape politeness – maybe guys are scared to say no to girls Grant Goodwin, English and Classics Honours has been used as a weapon by women against men. in a similar manner to women, in that because they think we are so emotional and sensitive. and Co-organiser of the Masithetheni Protest Again, I’m not seeking to undermine women in this, perpetrator tactics range from violent It might be difficult to refuse a girl without being Last year’s protest against male rape was called but such a sensitive issue should not be simplified assault, sexual coercion and deliberate misinterpreted as insulting her, and that could lead to ‘Masithetheni’, which I think is isiXhosa for “Let into a matter of men as only being evil perpetrators intoxication using drugs or alcohol. Men false allegations against the guy. Refusing a girl is also us Speak”. Male rape tends to have a lot of silence and women as only being innocent victims. That who do not conform to heterosexual a challenge to manhood – some girls might think he around it – rape generally is shunned and you don’t would not be fair to anyone. standards of appropriate male behavior, was gay. really speak about it, but nowadays you’ve got this or who are homosexual are more likely to huge movement growing, encouraging us to speak Vuyo Kumalo, BCom 4 be victimised. In these instances, rape is Vicky Heidemann, LLB Honours about rape. This issue will not be resolved if it I definitely think men can be raped. How I see it is: used to humiliate the victim in the course Legally speaking, the definition of rape is very remains in silence – that’s true for all rape. Women’s a girl could come up to you, she could flirt with you, of homophobic violence. As with female broad. In terms of men being pressurised to have rape has been dealing with this recently, like the buy you a few drinks, try to get physical, and perhaps survivors, exposure to rape for men is sex with a woman, I don’t know if that would ever 1in9 campaign [now known as the Silent Protest], you would feel uncomfortable about it. But the more associated with serious physical health and be considered rape as far as the law is concerned as but male rape is still very silent. Very few people drinks you have, the less you know what’s going psychological consequences. This includes it is not penetrative on their side. Personally, I think consider it even happens, and despite the stats being on – only to be shocked when you wake up the next increased risk of STDs, depression, drug it must be very difficult for a man to be raped in that lower than female rape, it is still heavily prevalent. morning. Guys also regret it in the morning. I had a and alcohol abuse and suicide attempts. way although I think it is possible. Peer pressure If you add the idea of a patriarchal society, saying friend who this happened to – he woke up the next Rape is also the traumatic event most likely can be devastating, and especially in this country that men are strong and manly and can look after morning with his laptop open and there was a note to lead to the development of symptoms there are very dangerous stereotypes about men themselves, then men being dominated has an added on Microsoft Word that a girl had left, saying that she of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). which they often feel they need to live up to. This psychological attack on everything on which they didn’t want to wake him up so she let herself out. He This is a particularly debilitating condition perpetuates the rape problem that we have in this are supposed to have constructed their masculinity was so shocked at that, and didn’t find any evidence that impacts on the individual’s capacity to country. and identity. If that gets torn down, what are you left of condoms in his room, so he had to go to the San function in daily life and exerts a significant with? To whom can you come and talk? to make sure everything was alright. There is an toll on interpersonal relationships. For Cory Smit, BJourn 2 assumption among girls that guys are always looking survivors affected by PTSD, specialist It’s not all that rare [for men to be taken advantage Nalo Gungubele, BCom 3 for sex when they go out, but my group of friends go psychological treatment is often necessary of]. Guys feel this constant pressure to be beasts in I don’t want to say that male rape doesn’t happen, out just to have fun. If you do happen to meet a girl, for recovery. the bedroom. Being surrounded by a hypersexual but in my head I can’t visualise it. Maybe I have it’s a bonus. society means that we often only have sex because very set ideas about how these things happen but 21 20 March 2012 Features Removing the black tape By Michelle Sabina Avenant and his younger sister. “I didn’t know that it was rape,” she says. “I I wasn’t one of them,” she recalls. “It felt like I’d failed them just as couldn’t put it into words because nobody knew what the word for much as I’d failed myself... I was defeating the purpose of the protest “In the beginning it was fine. I could think, ‘I’ve got tape over my it was at our age. When I told my mom that he hurt me, the logical itself by not speaking about it.” mouth and I’m doing it for a cause, it’s really good...’ but by about ten conclusion was that we were playing a game and he might have Taz feels that the message of Silent Protest is of great importance o’clock, I felt like I wanted to scream. It felt like the tape was my mouth accidentally pushed me off the couch or something.” to South African society. “The 1in9 thing: it’s about the eight women as well, and I just wanted to scream. I felt trapped in my own body.” For years, Taz suppressed her memories of being raped until they who are silent. They can’t get help where they need to,” she observes. eventually resurfaced when she was in grade nine. “We woke up “If I decided that I was going to lay a rape charge against that guy, I ast year, along with hundreds of other students, Taz pulled one morning and found that someone had tried to take my window don’t think I would win my case. I was a child, but there’s no way I La “Sexual Violence = Silence” T-shirt over her head. She had out while I was sleeping,” she recalls. “I got this sickening feeling, could do that now, because they would probably tell me ‘you’re upset a strip of black tape placed over her mouth. She attended her because the feeling I’d had when someone had tried to get into with him and you want to be malicious.’ We live in a patriarchal lectures in silence. Unlike her peers, however, Taz was not so much my room was the feeling of violation I’d felt when [the rape] had society,” she concludes. protesting sexual violence against women, but becoming slowly and happened. This memory came back and I remembered everything.” Taz will wear a “Rape Survivor” t-shirt at this year’s silent protest, sickeningly more aware of her own echoing speechlessness. Taz is a Arriving at Rhodes and taking part in the “Sexual Violence = and this time she will not be wearing tape over her mouth. For Taz, rape survivor. Silence” protest in 2011 was an emotionally draining experience for this is a symbol of breaking her own silence. “I’ve kept to myself for For three years, between the age five and eight, Taz was molested Taz. “There were people that I’d seen on campus, friends of mine, way too long,” she says. “I need to speak about it because it’s the only and raped by her neighbour’s teenage son who used to babysit her who stood up there and wore those ‘Rape Survivor’ T-shirts, and way I’m actually going to come to terms with it: by speaking.” When students get pets By Nina McFall the animals get on. In line with national SPCA regulation, property commitment and something that requires lots of thought.” checks are performed before people are allowed to adopt animals to Kayla Roux, a third-year Journalism and Media Studies student, tudents moving into digs are often tempted to mark their new- ensure that properties are both appropriate and safe for pets. This adopted her kitten Faye from the AWS in Port Elizabeth for R200. found independence by adopting a pet. Unfortunately, this prevents pets from being used for activities such as hunting and “Nobody told me she was supposed to get a second inoculation well-meaning decision is sometimes done without forethought dog fighting. As long as the home and owner conform to the five at one month, though” says Roux. “She is busy recovering from a Sor access to sufficient funding or grounds. However, students whodo freedoms of animals as per the SPCA, the animal should be content. serious bout of pneumonia - I was very scared she would die.” Pet thoroughly consider the commitment of pet ownership and are able These five are : health issues are not only distressing, but also costly. Roux, who pays to provide loving homes to their pets may end up benefiting both • Freedom from hunger and thirst - by ready access to fresh her pet’s bills herself, says: “Faye’s hospital stay, which ended up being their pets and themselves. water and food to maintain full health and vigour. a week in total, will probably be over R2 000.” Animals are not the only ones that benefit from the adoption • Freedom from discomfort - by providing an appropriate Many students fly home for the holidays and are not able to take process. Eckerd College in Florida, which allows students to keep environment, including shelter and a comfortable resting area. their pets with them. Juané van Dyk, a second-year Journalism and pets in their dormitories, has observed that pet ownership makes • Freedom from pain, injury and disease - by prevention, rapid Media Studies student, adopted a dog last year which had been taken students more responsible. Megan Fick, a third-year Oppidan, diagnosis and treatment. to the SPCA after being found on the side of the road in a plastic agrees. “I would rather spend my money on Rosie [my puppy] than • Freedom to express normal behaviour - by providing packet .Van Dyk’s digs mate looked after Boosh (named after the on going out at night.” According to Ohio State University, animals sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s popular TV show The Mighty Boosh) during the short vacation, and provide support and companionship while also acting as a natural own kind. over the longer holiday he stayed at the SPCA kennels. This boarding stress reliever to students who live with their pets. “Better dogs than • Freedom from fear and distress - by ensuring conditions and service is offered for between R27 and R38 per day depending on the drugs,” quips Lady Bee, an Inventorspot blogger. treatment that prevent mental suffering. size of dog. Students are discouraged from leaving their pets alone Both the SPCA and the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) charge With the previous experience of owning her own horse, Fick knows for long periods of time. for the adoption of pets. This adoption fee includes inoculations, the long-term commitment involved in pet ownership. “You need In the wise words of James Herriot: “If having a soul means being deworming, sterilisation, as well as ID chipping for dogs. Should to be able to provide for the pet,” she says. “If the necessities cannot able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off you have existing pets, a compatibility test will be done to ensure be met then it is unfair on the animal. Owning a pet is a long-term than a lot of humans.” Not your average monument By Wynona Latham The use of old buildings for modern means Another example is the is not new. One merely has to look around at Provost Prison, located t’s a building that looks weighted down, like a the architecture of Grahamstown to realise it near the Botanical Ibrick plonked on the ground. To a passer-by, it is a town filled with these ‘living’ monuments. Gardens, which now seems unremarkable, and its thin slits for windows People interact with history on a daily basis in serves as a part of a and slanted roof hardly betray its rich history. Grahamstown. The Drostdy Arch, for example, community centre Unless, that is, you stop to read the plaques on its used to be a guard house. Today it is used as shop initiative. It was declared walls. The House of Cocktails, as the building is premises from which an eclectic mix of things are a national monument now known by some, sits on High Street and is the sold. in 1937 and the cells oldest building in Grahamstown. Sound familiar “The building has a special history,” says Debra would be rented out for yet? Stein, the proprietor of Under the Arch. “We were accommodation during Yellow House, now a cocktail bar and restaurant, very lucky to be granted access. Other buildings, the Grahamstown is a national monument. Erected between 1812 and such as the prison across the road, were shut down. National Arts Festival. 1813, it served as a prison, then a school, then a This building is a constant reminder of history.” Yellow House library and, finally, it became the home of exquisite Several buildings on campus, such as the Drostdy doesn’t strike the cocktails enjoyed by students and townsfolk alike. Barracks, have a plaque that describes their status average onlooker as a Yellow House Coctail bar and restaurant is the oldest building in Gtown. Pic: One of the exterior walls of the building was used as national monuments on their walls. Today these monument: you would Niamh Walsh-Vorster to plan High Street and was instrumental in the Barracks are used as the English Language and never even know the Museums act as preservatives of culture creation of the city’s town centre. The building is Linguistics Department. Dr Sally Hunt, a lecturer building was special unless you were looking for and heritage, but they also tend to be isolated nearly 200 years old and stands a few buildings at the department, says that: “The building does those plaques. A functional monument may not and therefore harbour the possibility that the away from the picturesque Rhodes clock tower. contribute to our sense of self as a department.” have the devotion to preserving history that a information will only be absorbed by a limited You could call this building ‘living history’. It According to Dr Hunt, knowing that they museum does, but oddities in the architecture are number of people. Functional monuments are has survived as long as the town and, rather than work within a monument gives them a sense of enough to remind you. by no means badly looked after: they are, after becoming a static memento of times past, it has belonging to the Rhodes culture. These monuments also require a special kind of all, still national monuments. They still have a served various purposes throughout the years. It Selwyn Castle (also known as the Anthropology maintenance. “Using a monument creates different sense of immersion, however, and this sets them isn’t a museum or an isolated area that you need Department), has been the Cape Governors’ kinds of problems,” says Jesko Kalinski, owner of apart. When you enter Yellow House you have a special permission to enter. In contrast to the residences, a school, a house for children in need Yellow House. “Architecturally there are issues, like tactile sense of what was, and this way – whether Observatory Museum, Yellow House has become a as well as the original Day Kaif. It is hard not to where the front door is placed and the size of the it be willing or unwilling – you are involved with functional monument in its continued use. look at the gothic structure without curiousity. rooms.” history. 22 Features Edition 2 Pat Terry: The man behind the timetable By Karlien van der Wielen

lthough he is the Professor Emeritus of the Computer Sciences Department, Pat Terry admits to using two fingers to type. He has won multiple awards, received scholarships, written various textbooks and playedA a role in bringing the Internet to South Africa, but when it comes to typing, Terry still plays it old-school. Terry clearly has no problem communicating with computers: therein lies his Professor Emeritus Pat Terry in his office in the Hamilton building. Terry is the person responsible expertise. He might not type very fast, but as an expert in computer programming, he definitely for the co-ordination of the Rhodes exam and lecture timetables. Pic: Anton Scholtz. speaks the PC language. Terry came to Grahamstown with his family while he was still young. After obtaining his says that an increasingly important yet annoying part of the job is allocating classes to the Masters in Science at Rhodes in 1969, he moved to England to do his PhD at Cambridge. Terry’s different venues on campus. “It’s a real pain because although we’ve got enough rooms for our postgraduate studies in Physics brought him into regular contact with computers. classes at Rhodes, we haven’t got enough rooms of the right sizes,” he says with a chuckle. “They “I used computers a lot when I was doing my PhD,” he says. “I was just the right sort of age say in the army if they issue clothing you either get a size too big or too small – you never get the when a computer became a very, very useful tool to solve numerical kinds of problems which right one. “The situation is eased by the fact that a lot of students don’t bother to go to lectures, they hadn’t had the processing power for before. So we did a lot of computer programming... and to be quite honest.” that became quite fascinating in itself,” he mused. “My interest moved slowly from the sort of Terry is also involved in processing the exam results at the end of the year and collaborating maths and physics aspects of it towards computing. In about 1980 I kind of changed allegiance with others on texts for first-years about how to handle their start at Rhodes. At the moment, and became a lecturer of Computer Science.” he is trying to reach a point where his projects can be taken over by others – a difficult thing After obtaining his PhD, Terry returned to Rhodes as an Applied Mathematics lecturer to get a to do considering his immense institutional knowledge. “I’ve been spending quite a bit of time few years of experience. He soon became a professor of Computer Science and ended up staying trying to get the systems I’ve developed to the point where a program’s result will be properly to the present day. commented on and other people can understand them instead of just things that... have been On top of his academic commitments, Terry became very involved in administrative and lodged around in my mind for the last 15 years or so,” says Terry. managerial work at Rhodes. He was the Deputy Dean and the Dean of Science for 18 years in all Apart from that, Terry is taking it easy. He’s teaching a several third-year classes and might and served on numerous committees. attempt another textbook. In the mean time, he will continue orchestrating our classes and Although he retired at the end of 2010, Terry remains a prominent figure at the university. destinations, knowing the trends of subject choices and carefully examining the ebb and flow of Since 2000, he has been responsible for improving and maintaining the Rhodes timetable. Terry grades at Rhodes. Choosing a different road than Rhodes By Louise Fuller real desire, which was to become a horse instructor. Although she loved Grahamstown ver wonder if going to university was and had formed lifelong friendships, it was Ethe right choice for you? When we are not the place for her. She knew exactly what young, we don’t really think about university she wanted to do in life, and she felt her time – we just think of what we want to be, and at Rhodes had expired. this usually ranges from everything from She followed her heart and left Rhodes an astronaut to florist. As we get older, we at the end of 2010, and has now completed begin to change our ideas into what society module 4 of the South African National deems realistic and appropriate. As a result, Equestrian Federation, which makes her a the child in us who wanted to become a qualified national riding instructor. “As hard lion tamer now wants to become a doctor as it was to say goodbye when I left for good, or lawyer, usually something that requires a I’ve never looked back or considered going tertiary education. What if packing your bags back for that elusive degree,” she said. She is for university is not the best choice for you? now working towards completing module 5 Melinda Alvarez, a former student, came to become an international level 1 instructor. to Rhodes with the intention of majoring “I know what I want and I’m going after it at in Journalism and Psychology. In the end, full speed with all guns blazing.” however, Rhodes became a stepping stone University can be a great choice for many, which led her to her dreams. She took a but it is not for everyone. Sometimes it feels gap year in 2009 during which time she as though society has made it a taboo to completed modules 1-3 of the South African go into a profession that does not require National Equestrian Federation, the national a higher education degree. There are many leading organisation of equestrian sports examples of people who ignored what as recognised by South Africa. During this society deems ‘the right thing to do’ and time, she discovered the joy that horses instead simply did what made them happy, brought her. She did not, however, anticipate Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Jobs how strong this joy would become. included. These people, who stepped out of “I felt like I was taking another gap year,” society’s constraints for what is acceptable she said after arriving at Rhodes. She felt like and what is not, have created successful lives she was wasting her time studying towards for themselves in the way that they wanted a degree that had nothing to do with her to. 23 20 March 2012 Features The ‘I-can-get-away-with-anything’ delusion By Kerstin Hall According to the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, transgression they have committed, a system was in place that megalomania is a “delusional mental disorder that is marked by allowed students to simply pay a cash amount to atone. he story is a familiar one: celebrities caught shop-lifting feelings of personal omnipotence and grandeur”. Does this sound “A student with wealthy parents would just ask Daddy to pay,” walk free and politicians indulging in a luxurious holiday too extreme? Let’s take a look at Tiger Woods. says Ruth Jackson, who has been the Hall Warden at Hobson Hall at the expense of taxpayers get off without so much as a Following the revelations of the multiple affairs he had in married for the last 20 years. The fine was charged to the student account, rapT on the knuckles. Lindsay Lohan, Tiger Woods, Paris Hilton – life, the world’s most famous golfer explained that he felt he “was so, apart from the possibility of a loss of approbation from parents, for these people, the morals and rules to which ordinary people entitled”. The notion was that he had worked hard and had earned the wealthier students never really suffered any consequences for subscribe just don’t seem to apply. the right to do whatever he pleased. And if he ran into any trouble, their actions. Students who couldn’t afford to pay were, of course, Sure, they have their trials, their dramatic confessions and well, he had the resources to pay for that trouble to go away. welcome to do community service instead. “With both systems, the occasional proverbial slap on the wrist, but it is impossible This attitude obviously caught up with him eventually, but it begs the student’s exam results were not released until they had paid or to pretend that these people are held to the same standards as the question: If he had not been found out, wouldn’t he simply finished their hours.” everyone else – or that they even operate under the same judicial have kept on breaking the rules? How many other influential The policy was changed about four years ago and since powers. They can get away with nearly anything. people out there, perhaps more careful and discreet, get away with then, community service has been made mandatory except in This problem is nothing new: throughout history, those with whatever they want to? exceptional circumstances. For instance, if it is the end of the enough wealth and influence are able to worm their way out of The problem is simply the lack of consequences. Those who year and the student will not be returning the following year, the trouble. This is not even purely a question of fame. Even outside of abuse power in this way are not fearful of punishment, for they student may pay the fine. According to Jackson, Dean of Students Hollywood, it seems that those with less money suffer beneath the can usually just pay a fine. The fine often just amounts to the Dr Vivian De Klerk was particularly adamant in her support of the law far more than those with the cash. Take the concept of bail, for equivalent of the small change in their back pockets. Once they policy change. example: To a multi-millionaire, paying R100 000 for a Get Out of have paid, they can return to doing what they please and so the This system, whilst not preventing misdemeanors altogether, Jail Free card might be a minor irritation. For the man living from cycle continues. probably acts as a stronger deterrent. Each student is put on an one day’s wages to the next, this is not an irritation so much as an To a smaller and less megalomaniacal extent, this was the equal footing, and when faced with the prospect of 40 hours impossibility. situation being perpetuated at Rhodes. Before the current ‘hours’ of pot-scrubbing, floor cleaning or mind-numbing filing for The feeling of invincibility that the powerful have and the notion policy, whereby a student is given a certain time period of needlessly pushing a panic button, the average student might think that their actions have no consequences is known as ‘megalomania’. community service which varies according to the severity of the twice about the hilarity of that joke. Dagga couple for the “re-legalisation” of weed By Karlien van der Wielen

f Jules Stobbs and Myrtle Clarke have their way, there might soon be 3.2 million Ifewer criminals in South Africa. That is, if the press-dubbed Dagga Couple’s campaign to re-legalise cannabis in South Africa succeeds. Stobbs and Clarke, owners of multi-purpose venue Jazzfarm just north of Johannesburg, have issued a challenge to South Africa’s Constitutional Court against the 1992 Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act. “In short, the prohibition of dagga is unscientific, racist, irrational and wrong,” the couple states on their website. According to most sources, cannabis sativa (or merely cannabis) originated in Central Asia, and its first recorded use was in 2700 BC, when it was mentioned by one of the fathers of Chinese medicine. Cannabis use has grown over the centuries Jules Stobbs and Myrtle Clarke, or the ‘Dagga Couple’ as they have come to be known, are actively challenging in varying forms and with varying amounts of support. Ancient Egyptians used SA’s legislation on Marijuana laws. Pic: Mahala it as a remedy for various ailments. Difficulties arose when Egyptian medicine effectively became Islamic medicine, and cannabis’ psychoactive effects saw it classified it under that it is a “victimless crime” (if, they assert, it is indeed a crime). intoxicants according to the Muslim Sharia law. Prohibition was ineffectively enacted in the 13th This sentiment is echoed by various articles circulating the online cannabis support century. community, with statements that deny the validity of studies which show any detrimental effects Napoleon also tried his hand at criminalising the drug. Pope Innocent VIII of the 15th century dagga might have. An article published on MyNews24 by ‘Buzz’ reads: “Just as apartheid and considered it an “unholy sacrament of the Satanic mass”. However, there were times when similar establishments drilled the ‘White is right’ mindset into its citizens, we are still drilled cannabis was vastly popular, and advocated by such figures as President George Washington and with the misconception that “dagga is gaga”. Among the reasons they list various detrimental Queen Victoria. Some states and countries made cannabis production mandatory, and hemp side-effects, the threat of developing schizophrenia and the idea that dagga is a “soft drug” – which is related to the cannabis plant – was a major industry throughout the world. In the which leads to the use of drugs such as cocaine and heroin. There seems to be no critical 1900s things started to look bad for dagga. Various countries outlawed the possession and use of response to the Dagga Couple other than disapproving comments from church groups and cannabis and South Africa officially made it illegal in 1928. queasy parents. The call for empirical evidence as to dagga’s negative effects on their website The Dagga Couple claims that its criminalisation and continued status as an illegal drug is has gone unanswered (except for support messages from fellow cannabis consumers). The due to racist and colonial laws, which are sustained today through US propaganda. The couple information most base their aversion to dagga on is labelled as “outdated”, “misinformed”, also claims that their constitutional and human right to ingest anything they please is being “propaganda”, “hearsay” and “unscientific baloney”. violated by the prohibition of dagga. “Isn’t it your right to self medicate, to ingest whatever you Whichever side of the debate you’re on, you will find ‘evidence’ among the myriad studies feel helps your situation?” They point to “countless cancer, leukemia, glycoma, and multiple surrounding cannabis with which to stake your claim. The illegal status of cannabis makes it sclerosis patients” across the world who experience relief from pain and other symptoms with hard to conduct research openly, and thus most people can only base their opinion on hearsay. the use of marijuana. There are several ways to consume dagga, the most popular being smoking Judging by their support in South Africa and abroad, though, Dagga Couple does seem to have joints or bongs, and oral ingestion via food. Studies have shown that the active ingredient in veritable points. Cannabis does, however, remain South Africa’s drug of choice. It is estimated cannabis – THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol, if you insist on the long version) – is three times more that over 3.2 million citizens used cannabis in 2008, and this number steadily rose (although potent if orally ingested, since the smoking of cannabis inhibits some of the transmission of this recent censuses have not been completed as of yet). If the Dagga Couple’s campaign succeeds, constituent. A large part of the Dagga Couple’s campaign is based on their claim that there is no there will be at least 3.2 million fewer criminals in South Africa. Their success will mean that empirical and scientific proof that cannabis is detrimental to anyone. Furthermore, they suggest the choice to use dagga or not will be in the hands of individuals and not in those of the state. Edition 2

By Elna Schütz

For such a small place, Grahamstown is pretty darn cool when it comes to Punch and parched lips By Hancu Louw art and entertainment. Our nightlife raucous laughter is famous for some and infamous bouncing off walls as with others (usually those wearing An ode to Hunter S. Thompson... Lets give this wide-eyed first-years suits and living somewhere called Gonzo thing a try. try to traverse this ‘the real world’). But, when I look landscape of utterly around our little party-paradise this have an air of expectation as I stand, half uninhibited pleasure. year, I can’t shake the feeling that smoked cigarette in one hand while the other There are distinct something is amiss… holds a plastic bottle filled with a cocktail people and periods After the long vac, returning ofI whatever booze I could lay my hands on after at these gatherings, Rhodents found this town reshuffled noticing the invite at 19h30 while casually trawling and as each hour rolls – EQ is now Prime, Champs has the endless walls of Facebook. by the lead character sprung out of the old Scott’s Spot, After numerous missed calls, loud shouting changes as the music and what has happened to good and even the occasional profanity from my gets louder and tables old Slipstream? At one point I was severely intoxicated mate slopping about behind start straining under sure Grahamstown club owners had me, someone approaches the gate and fumbles the weight of empty wagered their locales in a communal with some keys. Presumably this is the host or Black Label quarts. poker game. hostess, but due to a century of finely-practiced Unexpectedly the A familiar scene at a Grahamstown digswarming. Pic: Bjorn Krietsch Sure, these changes all have good and socially-perfected drinking culture, this might music takes a turn reasons and contexts, and the town’s just be some poor sod sent to open the gates to an – for the better – and the crowd starts to move spot the actual person I’m talking about. avid partyers will always find a way expected night of debauchery. inside onto the makeshift dance floor (if in doubt The night progresses and before long the dance to have a good time (or ten). Yet a After the usual round of slurred greetings and about the levels of intelligence of the particular floor is packed to the brim, the stoep crowded part of me wishes we had a ‘nightlife occasional screams to familiar faces over the inhabitants of the house you find yourself at, judge with groups of four or five huddled around a pipe suggestion box’ in this town, where thundering din of voices and some playlist long the one who volunteered his or her room as dance or joint rolled in advance for the celebrations. the voice of the party people could forgotten (along with most inhibitions), it’s time to area as the biggest failure since the Neanderthals). Naturally by this time the bathroom has turned be heard. get down to business. The fridge already stacked to Writhing to the hard and fast base lines of some into a despicable mess of muddy footprints, We want a place to chill at night the brim, the counters and tables covered in half- ‘underground’ DJ, drenched in sweat, submerged empties and piss. for those not keen on maring drunk glasses of punch and overflowing ashtrays. I in a milling mass of glazed faces, numbed by The exodus usually starts around 23h30 when shamelessly every day. Maybe we venture deeper into the throbbing hive of activity. the prospect of another year spent binging the the general lack of booze to steal, beg or borrow want places that are friendlier to Depending on my proximity to dodgy-looking weekend away, I am suddenly confronted by a becomes a problem to the heavy drinkers and those different sexual orientations, certain okes, who would most definitely re-appropriate skinny blonde girl. “Shit, this music is crazy!” she who want to avoid the infamous Friar’s queue or music tastes or just our pet unicorns, my drink, I find the best tactic is to find a secluded shouts in my ear as I try and light another smoke. the packed bars around town. Stumbling down a for goodness sake! spot or cupboard and stash whatever might be “Ja, it’s pretty kiff,” I reply in a plume of Original road that looked far more familiar three hours ago I know we’re just the ones buying missed the following morning. Shag-flavoured smoke. “So, how do you know the with new-found comrades and fire in my veins, cheap beer and being very raucous, Drink in hand, I venture outside. There’s no place?” She continues. “I know one of the people I light up another rocket fuel cancer-propeller but when the balance is off, why space to sit, so I stand in the corner and roll who live here,” I reply, words staggering over my and brace myself for a Saturday morning only a can’t we have a say? another smoke while I watch a scene unfold: parched lips as I take another drag while I try to digswarming can guarantee. Innovations 2012 - there’s a fear in us all EVENTS GUIDE By Dumisa Lengwati resonate in some way with the audience members. themselves. This will allow for the audience to find Let Your BEAT be Heard The fear of falling asleep because you are afraid of the pieces more accessible and familiar when it A Youtube video promoting the annual feast of what you might see in your dreams; the fear of falling comes to performance time. 20 March theatrical delights that is Innovations has gone in love because you might be rejected; the fear of The front of house show also looks to be an viral at Rhodes and has set tongues wagging and fire, for even though it brings heat and life, it can still interesting feature, as audience members will be garnering anticipation for the feast of talent with its burn and destroy – these are the themes of a few of taken on a journey to confront some of their fears Fort Selwyn creepy overture. the spectacular pieces being put on show this year. A head-on. The tagline for Innovations this year is Innovations is quite different from other shows surprise appearance by Ubom! Eastern Cape Drama “WHAT.ARE.YOU.AFRAID.OF?” and the audience that are performed at the Drama department, and Company promises to be a highlight as they preview will definitely leave with a sense of tackling exactly all students on campus were encouraged to audition a sneak peek of an upcoming production. what it is that invokes certain fears in us all. 1in9 Silent protest and given the chance to flaunt their creative and An exciting new project has surfaced out of The video can be seen on YouTube under the theatrical sides. This year, applicants were asked to this year’s production. A Facebook group called title “innovations 2012 official promo video”. 23 March create pieces along the theme of ‘Phobophobia’ – the “Innovations 2012 process” has been created, and Performance nights are Friday 23 March and fear of fear. Since fear is something that is innate in it invites the public to engage with the material that Saturday 24 March. Tickets are on sale at the Drama all of us, the committee hopes that each piece will has been posted to the group by the performers department and at the door. MYOWNMUSIC The silent film that everyone’s talking about By Gemma Barkhuizen 23 March cheesy music score, which is pivotal not only to the atmosphere but also to the development of the SSS Title: The Artist plot. These cinematic techniques, coupled with Writer and Director: Michel Hazanavicius the phenomenal acting, lend authenticity to the Cast: Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John film. This ensures that every aspect of the movie Singing for Soup Goodman serves to engage the audience by giving them an Duration: 100 mins experience to connect to. 24 March Critical acclaim: won 5 Academy Awards It is not the type of film that most people would (including Best Picture 2011), 7 BAFTAs, 3 watch unless they are told to – but luckily, due Grotto Mojito Golden Globes to the impressive accolades it has collected, Rating: cool enough to give new meaning to the they have been told to. It is also highly unlikely A still from the silent film, ‘The Artist’. Pic: Supplied wonder that is the silent film. that they will regret obeying this instruction! Innovations Passionate film enthusiasts will experience it as undertones don’t always foster labyrinthine he Artist is a French film set in the 1920s in an opportunity for gratifying dissection, whereas inaccessibility. If these reasons aren’t enough: 23 & 24 March TAmerica. It was made in accordance with the indiscriminate movie-watchers will deem it a showing the film to any endearingly intellectual, prevailing cinematic norms of that time; it is a black- refreshing contrast with whichever chick-flick or art-loving, excitedly-barefoot, stereotypical Rhodent Rhodes Drama Department and-white silent melodrama which incorporates vulgar comedy they will watch next. Humanities is likely to mark you as an object of his or her humorously dramatic intertitles and a typically students could even find proof that postmodernist adoration. Just a tip. 25 20 March 2012 Arts & Entertainment When talent meets friendship By David Mann, Leah Solomon and Elna Schütz different instruments on the album, such as Guy’s sitar and Nibs’ twelve-string Puerto Deciphering the “unwritten language” of musicians Nibs van der Rican instrument, the cuatro. Anyone Spuy and Guy Buttery. listening to his intricate picking on its strings can’t help but smile in appreciation. eep, lifelong friendships can be as rare as pure musical Guy’s mbira brought a sweet and soothing talent, but when the two meet, the outcome is something African sound to the tracks, combining fantastic. wonderfully with the cuatro. “I get my DLong-time friends and internationally-renowned musicians, Van inspiration from the indigenous people. der Spuy and Buttery have finally collaborated on an album. The The instrument is just a vehicle for streams beautiful, spontaneous In the Shade of the Wild Fig is a testament of thought,” says Nibs. not only to the men’s unique connection, but also to their immense Both musicians have been busy with talent. constant touring lately, but once they The two describe their relationship as an “unwritten language” had played a set together after some time, – a sort of “telepathy”. When on stage, there is a strong personal they realised that it was the “right time” energy between them, adapting to each other’s playing without a to record an album. The two have been premeditated cue. They often make up a set list on the spot, making together on tour for the past four weeks, each show unique and keeping the audience on their toes. “Guy and promoting their album all across South I just connect. We’re on the same page, the same mission,” says Nibs. Africa. Their audiences, which range from Nibs van der Spuy and Guy Buttery perform together at the Lowlander. They kicked off their The way they are together has not wavered in the slightest since 50 to 300 people, are always diverse, with Eastern Cape tour in Grahamstown with a launch for their new debut album, ‘In the Shade of they met a decade ago – two good friends getting together and young and old fans and people from all the Wild Fury’, on 7 March 2012. Pic: Lauren Rawlins jamming almost effortlessly. Guy describes “a fresh, spontaneous, walks of life. The two said that the shows have been great and that it’s from the heart. A positive response makes us produce positive organic vibe” during recording. They say the new album gave them the good response from the crowds feeds them and their music. music,” the two agree. the opportunity to take various chances they normally would not Their shows at Grahamstown’s Lowlander were intimate, with an The tour has been a bigger success than they expected thus far and have been able to take in their separate solo careers. “We wouldn’t audience of about 65 people. is nowhere close to finished. “We love playing together,” says Guy. do it if it wasn’t fun,” Nibs says simply. Throughout the tour, Nibs would start off the show by playing “It’s effortless.” It’s easy to see that this easy, natural connection Their debut album was recorded over the space of only two days about 3 or 4 of his songs, and followed by Guy who would do the between Nibs and Guy is what gives their music so much heart. and was described by them as “something that came together same. Finally, they would come together and play a fantastic set Their fluid sound creates a warm, relaxed atmosphere that leaves you beautifully.” Not wanting to bring out a typical guitar duo album, consisting of both old and new tracks. The crowd’s response would awestruck. The pair plans to continue touring together till the end of they made sure that their tracks were very diverse with a sound they more often than not be an enthusiastic one, with loud applause and the year, and will be in Grahamstown for the National Arts Festival. described as “world music folk”. The two also experimented with cheering. “It’s nice when people love what you do. It shows that

Q&A with Nibs and Guy: Nibs has helped various musicians onto the South African scene. friends through the Durban folk scene in the early 90s. So this was Nibs: Rhodes student and musician Elizabeth Gaisford chatted to Activate all bound to happen – music works like that! What does ‘South African’ mean to you? about Nibs and the experience of recording some songs with him. It’s my inspirational playground for who I am. What is it like collaborating with such an iconic South African What’s your favourite sound excluding musical Tell us about Nibs as a musician and mentor. musician? instruments? Nibs is a fantastic artist. He has honed his skill to perfection and It’s the hugest honour to work with him! This sounds clichéd Bird calls. performs his intricate pieces with total dexterity. His passion for his but it’s true. We have a common KZN background so our music What would be your dream place to write/record? work and his creativity is obvious when he performs and I find this is inspired by a similar environment. His own work is as close to In a 13th century monastery in Italy. inspiring. He is also a totally humble, kind and a lekker human and perfect as possible. Because of this and above-mentioned similarities I can’t explain how grateful I am for his support. I trust him completely with my music. Guy: What are your top 3 artists to see before you die? What is your history with Nibs? How did you come to work with What are your future plans? Zeppelin, Sun Kil Moon and Van Morrison. him? Musically there is an infinity of stuff to learn, which is flippen If you could only hear one album over and over for the I got to know Nibs through his performances and workshops. I exciting. I would like to come to grips with other instruments and rest of your life, what would it be? opened for him in my hometown, Eshowe, in July and afterwards sounds and I’d like to jam with more people. Seeing people like Joanna Newsom’s “Ys” he offered to do the recording. But he and I go further back in a Nibs and Guy at work and loving it shakes me up and gets me What does ‘South African’ mean to you? sense. My aunt, Jane Gaisford, is a muso. She has been my main buzzing. None of us have to leave Rhodes and follow careers we Landscape. Culture. Music. influence and I have learnt the most from her. She and Nibs became hate!

Tuning in to local creativity The Dyslexic Equation By Caitlin Stobie the opportunity to explore new forms of writing second-year By Caitlin Stobie and gain confidence in their abilities. It runs for 15 Journalism (courtesy of Aerial/ISEA) t’s late on a Thursday night. You’re desperately weekly evening sessions from February to July each student Louisa Itrying to think of a conclusion to the essay that year. Feiter, expressed is due at 9am the next day. Suddenly, inspiration “By the end of the course, the students will similar feelings Lying on the burnt Even our thoughts strikes. You furiously smash out what you hope is have done at least two poems, short stories, after the book grass, were identical a brilliant sentence, listen to the soothing clicks of autobiographies, creative non-fiction (journalism) launch. “I we must have looked puzzle pieces. your printer, and then cradle the document in your and performance poetry,” said Carol Leff, one of enjoyed every like a dyslexic All Yang and no Yin. hands like it’s your first-born child. the course organisers. session - even equation. This was exactly the kind of feeling I had when The students spend the first half of the course if at times I felt I liked it best when I held my copy of Aerial 2011 at its launch at Café working on their pieces during weekly evening uninspired and I couldn’t tell you d’Vine last Friday. meetings. Towards the end of the course, they didn’t want to go, by the end of the evening I would where I ended kissed me upside- Aerial is an anthology of prose and poetry that are encouraged to submit their writing to an be happy that I had,” she said. “There are some and you began. down; is published every year by the organisers of a editorial team, composing of course organisers amazing pieces in Aerial, and I will treasure it very creative writing course run by the Institute for the and participants. Once the pieces are edited, the much.” It was just a flurry that way Study of English in Africa (ISEA). According to anthology is published. I benefited from last year’s course so much that I of fingers, legs you thought I was Robert Berold, the main founder of the course, I found the weekly classes to be of enormous help have decided to do it again this year – and not just and illiterate lips… smiling too. Aerial’s name was partly inspired by Ezra Pound’s with my writing last year. Due to the exercises in because returning students get a half-price discount Too many of them statement that “the artist is the antennae of the free-writing and other techniques that we dabbled off the R850 registration fee. I signed up because but only two race”. The word refers both to flight and the with, I found that my inner editor’s voice became there is nothing better than seeing your name of us. process of tuning in, which the organisers found to a lot less cynical. I no longer felt like I had to be ‘in printed alongside some of Grahamstown’s most be a satisfying combination. the right mood’ to write. talented writers. Not even printing that Psychology © Caitlin Stobie 2012 ISEA’s course aims to provide participants with Another participant from last year’s course, essay you should probably be writing right now. 26 Life Style Edition 2 It’s all in the shoe By Inga Sibiya faced with every single day because you didn’t own a single pair of to underprivileged communities through food and other resources, shoes? as well as gifting them with a basic pair of black canvas slip-on ou can’t call yourself a true Rhodent unless the high “Shoes for a Better Tomorrow”, or “TOMS”, as it is more shoes. The comfortable Argentinean-inspired shoe can be ordered streets and hill rises of Grahamstown have claimed a pair popularly known, is a non-profit charity that specifically addresses straight from the TOMS.com website and delivered to you from or ten of your shoes. You’ll have found yourself limping, that need. The founder, Blake Mycoskie, came up with the “One their factory in Santa Monica, USA. Prices range from the basic awkwardlyY supporting a torn strap or a non-existent sole, more for One” concept while on a trip in Argentina. In many developing R360 shoe all the way up to a specially designed creation for R615. than once. What if it wasn’t a choice? What if hookworm, a disease countries, shoes are mandatory for school acceptance, but the lack “If you can’t feed one thousand, feed at least one,” said Mother that causes anaemia and heart failure, and infects one-fifth of the of structure and economic support means some students miss out Teresa. This quote is the epitome of TOMS’s One for One mission world’s population, or potentially fatal tetanus were risks you were on those fundamental opportunities. Other issues include having statement. The organisation works on the principle that for every to walk extremely long distances in dangerous terrains to get clean pair of shoes they are able to sell, they match it and donate a water, and often, soil-based diseases that are contracted ‘twin’ pair to a child in need. For Mycoskie, the shoe is symbolic through walking barefoot not only cause physical of something much more profound than the clothing itself. symptoms but can lead to cognitive impairment He believes shoes lead to health, which allows and encourages too. education, which in turn boosts opportunities. Blake Mycoskie and his team reach out to other So, the next time you’re thinking of hitting the streets of international humanitarian organisations, forming Grahamstown in your bares, consider TOMS. It’s a good deed partnerships. With these partners, TOMS gives aid done every time you wear them. Journey to Machu Picchu By Rhea MacDonald On a trek of this scale, bathrooms are important: I was not prepared for the ones on this trip. They are squatters, with two-foot trays on eclared one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, either side of a hole you have to hang your behind over. I plugged my DMachu Picchu is an ancient city situated between two mountain nose and braved the swamp, tiptoeing my way around the foul hole. peaks near Cusco, Peru. It was built by the Inca people around the The final day required us to wake up when the sun rose at 03h30 year 1400 and abandoned a year later, not to be discovered by the to see the Sun Gate, a fortress located above the city, thought to be a world until 1911. It boasts remarkably high-tech architecture and lookout point for enemies. After a short two-hour hike of 5 km, we demonstrates a supreme level of knowledge of astronomy for the time rushed around the last bend with excitement and there it was! The period in which it was built. serene, beautiful city of Machu Picchu could be seen far below us. One of the challenges and beauties along the way of our four-day trek The feeling of accomplishment at finally arriving at our destination includes a climb to heights of 4 200m to scale ‘Dead Women’s Pass’. and my disbelief at the splendour of the lost city overwhelmed me. This day’s activities saw us clambering up huge man-made stone stairs. The sun was just beginning to rise, so we sat and took pictures of the The kind of exertion it takes raise each foot higher than the previous spectacular view. We had been lucky with weather and the skies were one while breathing in less and less oxygen is indescribable. It felt like perfectly clear. Slowly, the rays of sunshine made their way directly I had run a 10 km marathon after a few steps! Fortunately for me, onto the city and it sparkled in the sunlight. All the difficult hiking the hardest part was now over with. The temperature had dropped to made me appreciate the breathtaking sight even more. A great feeling Machu Picchu in Peru is hailed as one of the Seven Wonders around zero degrees, so we didn’t stay there for long. of contentment came over me. A moment to be treaured forever. of the World. Pic: Flickr Topless Baby Rangie Women with By Ruan Cronje Scheepers

aving recently talked my potential future Hin-laws into acquiring one, it has become tequila! abundantly clear how I have entrusted my soul By Amber Leigh Davies to the success of the Range Rover Evoque. I am pleased to report that three months down the line, they still adore it. I can assume that the wedding romotions are what make Grahamstown go round, or so it seems on is still on. Pyour average Friday night at the Rat and Parrot. Pretty young women Land Rover has managed to create a near- in short shorts and low-cut tops seem to be the draw card that gets perfect vehicle, which serves all purposes customers to buy that extra little drink or three. flawlessly. It is a seriously capable off-roader, a The idea is simple – sex sells. Many are simply more likely to buy a small and nimble city runabout, a comfortable drink from a good-looking man with no shirt or a pretty woman with long-distance tourer and quite possibly the best long bare legs. Science proves the theory – a Stanford study showed looking fashion accessory currently on sale. The Range Rover Evoque Cabriolet. This picture was released as a that men in particular were far more likely to take higher financial risks prelude to the Geneva Motorshow. Pic: Auto Motor und Sport Someone at Land Rover must obviously have following exposure to erotic images. taken their vitamins, since the new Evoque is said to be South would look good in an Evoque. With its tinted glass and high On the side of promo people, there is a significant incentive. “It’s good Africa’s most desirable car of 2012 and is currently the top- window line you are relatively obscured from the admiring cash for easy work and I would do it again any day,” explains shooter selling Land Rover product. glances of the outside world. Without the roof, all that bliss is promo girl Chelsea Brasher. She says that some promotion jobs pay over However, when it comes to those who decided to take the gone and all you are now is a bald, middle-aged man with a R100 per hour and while the hours are late and spent in heels, she earns roof off the Rangie, I am afraid they went incredibly awry. beer gut and ear hair singing along to Justin Bieber in Barbie’s well above the minimum wage one might make waiting tables. Whether it is because they did not like that fantastic sloping car. On the other hand, the job can come with a downside. Tash van Blerk, roofline, a definitive design element of the standard car, I guess if you are Posh Beckham you would like it. If the a second-year BSS student, says that some individuals cross the line. or they just liked the idea of a Range Rover for Barbie, the original Range Rover Evoque is an Armani suit, creating “Money was shoved down my shirt and I was told to strip,” she says. result is, to state it mildly, an incredible flop. That, ladies and the Evoque Cabriolet is analogous to cutting that suit up to While this behavior is not appropriate or condoned, it can be a reality of gentlemen is the premise behind the Range Rover Evoque make a cheerleader’s skirt. Some things should just be left the job for many. Cabriolet concept. alone! I’m afraid to say that this is a huge mistake the person Emma Vosloo, a former promo girl, says that revealing outfits are the The party trick of the standard Evoque was that it could responsible should be banished from automotive design as norm. “We were made to wear shorts and a tiny T-shirt,” she says. “I was compliment drivers of both sexes. In fact, it did more well as society in general. Then sent to the naughty corner quite uncomfortable, but if I had a little more confidence I would have than just compliment: it placed you in the league of the of the world to contemplate their fate for disemboweling the been fine.” While some may view this as inviting objectification, most extraordinarily beautiful, regardless of what you actually Range Rover brand and all it stands for: class, understated employers are firmly against the harassment of their promotion teams looked like: man or woman, fat, thin, bald – even Mick Jagger style and sophistication – the ultimate in luxury off-roading. and customers are expected to treat them with respect. 27 20 March 2012 Lifestyle

ach sign of the horoscope has its the love checkbook. Dear Stoner Virgo It’s been a considerable amount of own love troubles – the mystical What an ultimatum! She loves you too. weeks since I have had someone in my Activate oracle is here to give the My girlfriend says I look like a skinny You always knew that this day would bed to make passionate love to. Will the Esigns some advice. pimp on crack. Do you think she knows come, though you didn’t expect it to drought last forever? that I deal in some contraband on the side? come so soon. She doesn’t understand Dear Unsatisfied Sagittarius My boyfriend won’t take me to romantic Sup Gemini your stoner vibes, but at least she loves The drought will not last forever. That movies or anything that looks moving. So can you hook me up? Just kidding. your soul. Pot is a huge part of your being said, randoms from Rat and Friars I really want to watch The Vow. What Your girlfriend is an idiot – she doesn’t life and this is why the decision is hard. will not fill the hole in your heart, and should I do? know. She’s just really into fashion and Don’t listen to your friends – listen to of the next few lovers you will take, only Dear Romanic Pisces style! Mix up your wardrobe: try out the yourself. Only you can make the decision. the third will fully satisfy your bedroom Your over-sensitive nature can be a bit preppy look, but don’t go too far, or your Unfortunately, I foresee that only one appetite. You’re gorgeous – ride out the over-whelming. You cry too much and too clients won’t recognise you. of the two will remain in your life. The drought and you will find the person easily. Try really hard to remember that choice is yours, but you can only have one. of your dreams without having to do movies are not real life! This is hard for you I kissed a random and then I didn’t shower Having a tattoo of her name and cannabis anything more strenuous than fall asleep because you truly believe that your life is a until the next evening. I feel really bad leaves on your arm does not make it any in your Latin lecture. movie – talk about self-centred. Your tears about it, and every time I think about it, easier. Good luck! are your secret weapon – if he says he’s I eat Steers. I’m pathetic. Help me feel My tutor doesn’t smile at me anymore – not taking you to watch a romantic movie, better, please! I cheated on my boyfriend a couple of help! I really, really like him. Like, a lot. drop a few tears and you’ll be seated with Dear Naughty Cancer times, I don’t really know why. Do I have Our kids are going to be beautiful genii. popcorn at Roxbury Theatre in less than I think you need to accept that you have to tell him, or can I just say that his best Dear Creepy Capricorn ten minutes. a problem. This is the first step. You are friend and I were studying a lot this week? Boy, do you need to lay off usually such a control freak! You have Also, can I wait to tell him until after our scrapbooking your future plans – sure, I’m really bored - when I see my boyfriend to stop this behaviour. Also, showering Gino’s date? it’s great that you no longer plan on

THE ORACLE I feel like I need to throw up – and I’m not is really important – last year you were Dear Lascivious Libra, marrying Bill Gates – but your tutor pregnant. What does this mean? Is it over? practically a hygiene freak, and now you’re Because of your indecisive nature, this probably has a girlfriend, or at least a Dear Bored Aries getting cozy with strangers, skipping is a familiar situation for you. You should problem with dating someone in his tut. It’s OVER! Your boyfriend has been showers and eating take-out. Oh Cancer, probably tell him. No matter what I tell Emailing him that you really appreciate suppressing you. Your body is rejecting it’s all downhill from here unless you get you to do, however, I know you’ll tell him his help and the way he touched your arm him. You want freedom and excitement: your act together. once he’s paid the bill and you’ll probably and that you think he is “super duper something totally new. A new, rather short have a date lined up with a handsome smart and totally snoglishish” will really man with the new iPhone will surprise you So this guy I’ve been stalking and talking hunk from Hani house for the next day. freak him out. You will be moved to a - he will bring many things into your life to is really cute. I think I have feelings for No one knows how you get away with new tut group if you act on your feelings, - such as chains, outfits, red go-go boots, him! When will he be mine? all your cheating – it’s probably because and then he’s not going to smile at you maple syrup and candle wax. He will also Dear Longing Leo you’re so pretty. But be warned: no matter anytime soon. I suggest you get a pet or get you to switch your BlackBerry to an Firstly, stalking is just weird (unless we’re how rich you marry, you can’t buy karma try online dating. iPhone... talk about exciting! talking Facebook stalking - which is fine). offsets! He will be yours when he takes you out on My girl friend hates my mullet - how do I I really want someone to love me – I feel a real date – watching movies in his room I have a recurring dream that I’m going change her mind? like an ugly island that no-one wants to is not a date and neither is meeting up at to die after I murder my lover. I am not a Dear Silly Aquarius visit. a club. But it is a leap-year, so you can ask violent person and I really care for him. Your mullet is a not something that Dear Teary Taurus him out first if you want. Also, I foresee What’s wrong with me? should be accepted – it’s nasty. Chances It’s been a rough month for you – him having a technical difficulty, nothing Dear Scary Scorpio are she doesn’t think it’s very sexy! you’re even getting metaphorical. You too major – when this happens you should I foresee a long stay in prison if you go My only advice to you is to take an are beautiful and love will sweep you off just trust that by the third time he will be through with your dream. Your recent emergency trip to the hairdresser as DIY your feet in an Accounting lecture. If you an expert. intake of non-prescription medicine is has never worked too well for you. Try were an island then you’d be a beautiful, messing with your head! Lay off the meds scheduling an appointment before the inviting Greek island. Love is around the I love her more than I have ever loved and book yourself into some therapy – 27th, because after then, the only one corner and will knock on your door soon. anyone but she wants me to give up weed. you’re way too obsessed with death and loving your mullet will be three species of Remember, your friends love you no matter My pot! Doesn’t she get it, why would she have some freaky ideas. Maybe you should head lice. Needless to say, your girlfriend what and will find you a better man if that ask such a thing? How do I keep her and take up a hobby – stamp collecting sounds really won’t want anything to do with Accounting guy doesn’t add up and balance my pot? nice and normal. you.

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Terms and conditions apply 28 Business Edition 2

Banks for students to use By Ziyanda Magazi she definitely does not want from a bank is excessive transaction cheque accounts and certain amounts of free ADSL data. FNB’s charges. “It’s hard enough surviving on a students’ budget – credit card benefits include the same fuel rewards, 10 eBucks hat do you look for in a bank? Is it convenience, imagine a whole lot of your cash being chowed off by bank earned for every R100 spent, travel insurance with every air ticket out-of-this-world-service, quick and easy access? Is charges!” purchased, AA emergency roadside assistance to linked Petro it the status that the bank offers you, or is it making Samantha Wilhelmi, a Grahamstown attorney, doesn’t hold cards and personalised interest rates. yourW money work for you? A familiar sight at Rhodes during allegiances. She says that “good customer service, communication ABSA’s silver and gold cheque account packages, which span O-Week involves major banks in Grahamstown coming out to and efficient and fast service in the bank” are valued highly. “I’m individual incomes of R5000 to R25000 a month, typically get serenade first-years with their banking products, student benefits not loyal to a particular bank – I use three different banks [Absa, you R10,000 life cover, certain rebates on vehicle or asset finance and freebies. A number of O-Week specials including free airtime FNB and Nedbank],” she says. “However, I would change to or home loans, interest-free overdrafts up to R500 (silver) and when opening a new account, have seen queues expand over the whichever bank my customer is working with.” R 1 000 (gold), credit interest on positive balances and access to years and students finding a new home for their student budgets. The main banks are fighting each other on all fronts for their Absa Rewards. This, however, has not come cheaply: bank charges such as market share. Some methods are social networking and marketing Nedbank, the ‘green bank’, has made a reward programme cash deposit costs and debit card purchase charges plague every innovations such as FNB’s “Does your bank do that?” campaign. available to all cheque and credit card holders at an annual fee of student. However, the most important tools now are non-banking services, R169. Up to 10 cards can be linked to a Greenbacks account at no Mbali Sebaeng Lesang, an Honours student, points out: “Faster benefits and rewards. extra cost, and a percentage of income generated from these cards online banking and good services are important, especially to Standard Bank, for example, has a Value Choices programme for is donated to various environmental causes. students who lead a fast-paced life and who don’t like waiting [in] discounts with four categories: trends, family, home and travel. The choice of which bank to use rests with you: ask yourself queues.” While we know that these qualitative features of banking This costs nothing, but for more deals, customers have to join the what you need from your bank and what you are willing to pay for are important and in some cases are well worth the charges, Value Choices Club at R20 per month. that service. Does your bank care about the things you care about? looking at how much you are paying for banking products and FNB’s cash-back points programme called eBucks attracts many Visit banking websites, talk to their advisors and question their how much you can save is also important. Have a look at the customers. Their range of benefits for using a cheque card includes customers. Learn how to save and use money wisely and invest in different cost from each bank and save cash by choosing a bank up to 15% back on fuel purchases in the form of eBucks, up to your future – whether it be a green future, one in which you can that suits your lifestyle. 2.5% back on qualifying spending a month, reduced prices and move forward, or one in which you and your bank are together Zezenkosi Hloomani, a 1st year student, is adamant that what instalment options on smartphones and tablets for qualifying today and tomorrow. Guide to the stock Zimbabwe open for market business By Ziyanda Magazi A dividend is the amount of a company’s By Njabulo Nkosi inconsistent and unpredictable.” profit distributed to each ordinary The Zimplats issue, regarding its tocks, bonds, price indexes, common shareholder, usually expressed either as a imbabwe’s Prime Minister, Morgan nationalisation and negotiations with SA stock, liquidity and dividends. These are percentage of the nominal value (the stated ZTsvangarai, petitions, “Come home and platinum miner IMP, is a work in progress. terms that many do not even attempt value) of the ordinary share capital or as an invest in Zimbabwe, as the opportunities are These political, social and economic issues toS understand. Even more confusing is the absolute amount per share. Traders make there now.” This is the troubled country’s are very real, and make the above-average stock market and how it works. However, money depending on the dividend yield and latest call for increased and rapid Foreign economic growth figures of Zimbabwe with the benefits and interests inherent in the share price. Direct Investment (FDI) in its struggling unimpressive, causing investors to be weary stock market, a basic knowledge of the subject The share price, which is the value of the economy. of investing. “I can understand a wait-and-see would be beneficial to any profit-oriented share, is determined purely by supply and This comes after the Zimbabwean economy attitude” said Tsvangarai. “But the question individual. demand. When more people are buying shares has recently seen high economic growth is wait-and-see until when?” The time is The stock market is all about the buying and of a particular company (influenced by the rates, which should be an indication that uncertain. The choice of whether or not to selling of shares (a portion of the company) various factors such as the perceived value of it is open and ready for FDI. Dr Sibanda, invest rests with the investors. that are available to the public. The acquisition the stock), the share price increases because of the Zimbabwean Permanent Secretary “There are a lot of uncertainties in of these shares is based on multiple factors the demand and lowered availability. Similarly, for Economic Planning and Investment Zimbabwe that ward off investment,” which include the reputation of the company, when more people are selling a stock rather Promotion, says that the Zimbabwean says Lona Sibanda, an honours student in its financial position and its financial than buying the stock, the price of the share economy grew by 9.3% in 2011 and is Economics. “With regards to the constitution, performance. These factors influence the tends to fall because there are more shares expected to expand by 9.4% in 2012 after one side believes that [Zimbabwe] should perceived value of the company’s shares and available in the market. growing by 5.9% in 2009 and 8.1% in 2008. [not] proceed with the elections; the other thus influence the buying and selling decision When people decide to sell shares, it could Zimbabwean Finance Minister, Tendai side [believes that] nothing is wrong with the of the trader. mean that it is too risky to hold on to the Biti, pointed out that the move to a system constitution and elections should commence. A share of stock is the smallest unit of share because the anticipated returns by the of multiple currencies, rather than printing These political uncertainties are not ownership in a company. If you own a share of holder of the share may not be met, due to its own, has allowed a marked turnaround attractive to investors.” Dr. Doreen Bekker, a company’s stock, you are a part owner of the conditions such as poor performance of the in country’s economic fortunes. These an International Trade Theory lecturer at company. This entitles you to a proportion of company during its financial year. achievements included reducing inflation Rhodes, said that “Huge uncertainties [in distributed profits and of residual value if the An increase in the share price as people buy from hyper-inflation in 2008 to only 3.5% in Zimbabwe] are not going to attract investors. company goes into liquidation. more shares is a good thing, particularly for 2001 with an expected 5% in 2012. Maybe altruistic organisations like the World The basic types of shares available are a long-term investor who is interested in However several factors are still repelling Bank may invest, but profit-oriented multi- ordinary shares and preference shares. watching their investment grow. For short- FDI. The United Nations World Investment national organisations would not be prepared Ordinary shares entitle the owners thereof term investors, the trick is to buy low and sell Report 2011 reported that FDI flows into to do so.” to all distributed profits. Preference shares high. Traders who are the real money-makers Zimbabwe were only US$105 million in 2010, There are those who share the positive entitle the owners thereof to a fixed rate of in Securities Exchange do not buy shares as while neighbouring Zambia attracted almost outlook of Tsvangarai and believe now is the dividends; they contain limited voting rights a form of capital investment but rather buy ten times that amount at $1.041 billion. time to invest in Zimbabwe and Africa. Chief are sometimes redeemable. shares in order to resell them at a higher price. Investor confidence in the country is very economist at Standard Bank, Goolam Ballim, Liquidity means easily convertable into cash Daily, a trader’s life is marked by a close low, owing to a poor track record relating to believes that “Africa has never been in a which allows buyers to easily buy and sell watch in the business news to see how shares private property rights. “The biggest challenge better position for high growth rates and large shares on the stock market. People normally of different companies are performing. They facing Zimbabwe is a 90% unemployment amounts of [FDI].” He believes this is true due buy stocks to make profits out of the stock keep tight checks on the companies in which rate,” said Prime Minister Tsvangarai. “We to the recent increased African growth rate, market, so the concept of dividends are they hold shares in order to calculate the effect need an environment that encourages job stabilising political climate and inter-Africa important. or the risk of, say, a decision to fire the CEO. creation. We cannot have policies that are trade. 30 Environment Edition 2

Envrionmental Apathy Environmental group “not By Shirley Erasmus enemies of economic growth” The annual Rhodes University Environmental Week was launched By Marc Davies changing facts is not on Monday, 12 March. The working in their favour unfortunate fact of the matter is there here is “good reason to doubt Shell’s claims here.” He added that for all to see, however: the majority of honesty and transparency”, Treasure the economic growth of the student body had no idea. The Karoo Action Group (TKAG) Chairperson, and job creation the event was surrounded by a particular TJonathan Deal, said during a Rhodes Skype company proposes could lack of lustre and seemed badly conference. This environmental watchdog group take up to 15 years – a organised and executed, and poorly claimed that the international oil giant has made all clause he said has been received. those opposed to fracking in the Karoo appear as omitted, raising false The themes for this year’s events “enemies of economic growth”. prospects for many relate to the different metaphorical A forerunner for the protection of the Karoo, who are currently hats that we each wear on a daily Deal emphasised his group’s activism. “Until there unemployed. basis. These include our academic has been a proper investigation into technology Hydraulic fracturing hats, social hats and our drinking and a scientific consensus that this is the right has already been banned hats. This year, Ruth Kruger and sustainable choice to provide energy and or faced moratoriums encouraged students to put on their employment, we will remain opposed,” he said. in over 110 locations Anti-fracking demonstrations chant “Frack you, leave the karoo” as they ‘green hats’ and begin a ‘green hat Shell’s public relations machine, according to worldwide according walk down High Street on Friday 16 March 2012. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster revolution’. While the concept is Deal, has gone into ‘overdrive’ in their attempts to to the watchdog group. sincere, it was met with confusion convince South Africans of the substantial economic Deal argued that the incidence of health problems Christopher Harris. “It is particularly concerning from many students who had no idea benefits of fracking while downplaying the possible in many cities, towns and hamlets near fracking for us in Grahamstown that the water discharge in what a green hat revolution referred negative side-effects. “Pro-environmental groups are sites has risen noticeably. The discharged water the Karoo is likely to reach our rivers and, hence, to. not opposed to job creation. The problem is that jobs from the fracturing process is usually contaminated, our local water supply,” he noted. He asked if there Perhaps the concept could have and revenue are not the only concern,” he claimed. and the surrounding air polluted through chemical is “anything more disrespectful that could be done been explained on the mural painted Deal said that the company has “lost ground with evaporation allegedly creates numerous health to the beautiful water of South Africa”, stressing the behind the library. Instead, this informed and thinking persons” in the public. Shell hazards. importance of protecting this resource. was covered in a hastily painted nevertheless claimed substantial public favour for The process of extracting gas from shale rock Deal asserted that the TKAG will not necessarily advertisement where readers could its proposal to initiate hydraulic fracturing in the requires about 20 million litres of water per well, be opposed to fracking indefinitely, but wants more guess the topic through picking out Karoo. “We want to see the actual position of South of which many millions will become contaminated intensive research and public opinion surveys to be phrases such as ‘global warming’ Africans on this matter,” Deal said, doubtful of and released into rivers or injected back into the carried out in the interest of the environment and and ‘COP17’. The mural stood in this assertion. “Shell’s international reputation for ground, according to Rhodes environmentalist public. stark contrast to the beautiful mural painted during Animal Rights Week last year. Indeed, organising and managing an event of this magnitude National Water Act debated in a university, whose environmental By Gorata Chenget allocate water sustainably was that of addressing the existing backlogs in equity. awareness constitutes at most a He asserted that municipalities were not, at present, capable of implementing the pathetic shrug of the shoulders, wo Rhodes societies joined forces to educate students about the right to National Water Act and noted that Grahamstown’s water shortages were not due can be no small feat. However, Twater as part of Environmental Week. Galela Amanzi, a society devoted to a “lack of resources” but instead “a lack of management”. one cannot help but wonder: if to installing water tanks in and around Grahamstown, collaborated with Legal The complexity of the water crisis in Grahamstown and surrounding areas was the week were merely a handful of Activism and hosted a discussion on Tuesday 13 March 2012. examined throughout the discussion. One contributor highlighted that in some events which were better organised, Representatives of Legal Activism began by establishing that unlike other areas, residents had to walk long distances to get water and this had sometimes advertised and more student-friendly, Constitutions around the world, South Africa’s Constitution is admirable resulted in instances of rape and murder. Additionally, numerous children would the week have been better because it recognises the right to have access to water and has protected this suffered from illnesses such as diarrhoea. It was suggested that in order to received? right in Section 27 under the Bill of Rights. There are two main acts which improve this situation, the community - especially those sectors which enjoy the On a personal level, I felt that the deal with this right: the National Services Act and the National Water Act. The privilege of water access - needed to be better informed about the implications of week highlighted the severe lack purpose of these is to ensure that water is easily accessible and that it meets the Grahamstown’s water shortages for the less fortunate community members. of unity between the university required quality standard. The fruitful discussion also highlighted the role and value of legal activists in and the environment. Numerous In the forum it was noted that in reality, there is a disparity between what is in this situation. Representatives from Legal Activism pointed out that members academic departments deal with the constitution and the reality for citizens. In this light, Professor Denis Hughes, of the legal community could make great contributions in helping citizens, who the environment on a daily basis. a hydrologist and Director of the Institute for Water Research, commented that often do not have adequate resources, to fight for their violated right to have None of these departments seemed the legislation in place was “ambitious and difficult to implement”. He said that access to water. Professor Hughes summed it up by saying that the ways to defeat interested in the week or in attending one of the main issues preventing the fulfilment of the legislation’s principle to these obstacles “are often too expensive for ordinary people”. or hosting any events. Clearly, the university has a huge task ahead of it in making the campus more environmentally- Ethical environmentalism friendly and aware. The anti-fracking By Jane Berg “Right and wrong used to be based on what the community believed but now it demonstrations and tree planting is all about what the law says. We defer responsibility to these external bodies and exercises did their part in achieving hodes’ Environmental Week was kicked off with the theme ‘Environment it’s not really entirely up to them,” she says. What is needed is a re-personalizing of this goal. The alternative, towards Rand the Law’. The environment is intricately connected to all faculties of ethics. If I see litter on the floor I don’t say ‘It’s the municipality’s job to make sure which our apathy is pushing us at life, and as such the judicial system offers an interesting perspective from which that doesn’t happen’, and just ignore it.” an alarming rate, sees us walking to explore the ethics behind protecting the environment and the rights and Olvitt argues that it is partially caused by an “artificial separation” between our head first into disasters such as responsibilities we have towards it. different objectives. “It’s important to see all the other things as inter-related. It’s climate change, rising sea levels, This is a particularly interesting topic in light of the international not the economy versus sustainability because we won’t have an economy if we overpopulation and pollution. embarrassments faced by the movement in recent times, such as the ‘Fakegate don’t look after our resources,” she says. “Part of what we do at the Sustainability Even if only one person is making a affair’. In this scandal, eminent global warming activist and scientist Peter Gleick Commons is to try and work educationally with people like high school teachers, difference, it is better than nothing. admitted to having committed identity fraud in order to obtain incriminating files municipal workers and curriculum planners to try and help them engage with Perhaps what is most disturbing is from the Heartland Institute. We may recognise his good intentions, but can we those ideas.” that the only green which would have go so far as to say, as The Guardian UK journalist James Garvey did, that “perhaps In his essay “Sustainable Development – Is It Achievable Under Our Current been celebrated last week was the more climate scientists should play dirty”? Legal Framework?”, Cormac Cullinan calls for “governmental systems to ensure crazed excitement of St Patricks Day As for how this issue affects us on a local level, it may be that there has been too that humans act in accordance with this new worldview.” – an event which actually has nothing much focus on the law, to the neglect of the environment. Our Constitution gives We can either wait for this kind of government to make our environmental to do with South Africa. Am I the only everyone the right to have their environment protected. Environmental Education rights a reality, or we can as the saying goes, ‘take the law into our own hands’, and one who finds this ironic? lecturer Lausanne Olvitt feels that this aspect is sorely amiss in reality. take responsibility for our own futures without needing to be told to from above. 31 20 March 2012 Sport

CSA scandal… again Calling all tough guys By Bridgette Hall By Morgan Collins

ronman. What comes to mind? Robert Downey The South African cricket team has Junior acting hard-core in an armoured suit, letting many things to boast about as the technology be the tough guy? Well, why do that, when Proteas slog it out on tour in New youI can be the tough guy yourself? Much more authentic. Zealand. We are ranked second in the Much more hard-core. world in all formats of the game, and Unbeknownst to many, real life Ironmen do exist and with the likes of Jacques Kallis, Vernon are put to the test annually to ensure a constant stream of Philander and skipper AB de Villiers, we bona fide tough guys. 3.8 km of swimming, 180,2 km of have one of the most talented squads cycling, and a mere 42.2 km of running. No armoured suits around. These are high honours for a permitted. Just good old sweat. team whose administration at home is With less than six weeks to go, Chairman of Athletics falling apart! Club, Sean Swanepoel has been mentally and physically The Nicholson inquiry released last getting ready to be put through one of the ultimate week looked into a number of troubling endurance tests. He is hoping that he too will be able to join aspects concerning the administration of the ranks of real life Ironmen and be “able to call [himself] South African cricket. The major concern an ironman.” is Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Gerald Having said that, the modest athlete explained that it is Majola, who according to the report essentially just about finishing, although completing it sub was paid over R1.7 million in bonuses 12 hours would see him breaking the Athletics Clubs current following the Indian Premier League record. “I really wasn’t anyone to expect anything from,” tournament and Champions Trophy Swanepoel explains as he relates his humble beginnings in competition held in South Africa in 2009. the Athletics club, which involved arriving for his first runs The inquiry was appointed by Sports in shoes too big for him, which were affectionately christened Minister Fikile Mbalua in November “hiking boots” by his fellow runners. 2011 to investigate the CSA’s failure to Since then Swanpoel has completed two half Ironmans implement financial recommendations and countless triathlons and duathlons, but he feels that made by auditing firm KPMG. An “it’s time for an upgrade”, and that “completing this race internal investigation was conducted will be a test to [himself] to see what else [he] is capable of.” in 2010 under AK Khan, the then-acting While most students can relate to moaning about the president of CSA. Majola received a slap dreaded hilltop residents, Swanepoel casually explains that on the wrist and had his bonuses repaid a typical training week will see him clocking 50 to 80 km of with interest. “The committee believes running, 150-300 km of cycling a week and throwing in the the Commission was set up to protect occasional 3.8 km swim. Majola from any enquiry,” said Nicholson With the addition of Honours to worry about, Swanepoel in his report. However, CSA maintains has not backed down from the challenge of continually that it never took sides during the saga. pushing his passion for a sport to new boundaries. This is “The board has always backed cricket testament of his own philosophy that “any one is capable Sean Swanepoel, Chairman of the Rhodes Athletics Club, in action during the 2009 and not any individual,” said Khan. of doing anything, you just need to get up and do it,” an half Ironman challenge. Swanepoel is currently preparing to participate in his first full In the latest twist, three CSA employees inspiration for anyone toying with the idea of greatness. Ironman this year. Pic: Supplied have resigned in the last week. AK Khan and John Blair (Chairman of the Risk and Auditing Committee) left just three days before the CSA board was set to decide Majola’s fate, and Kass Naidoo (Brand Tendulkar makes it 100 centuries and Corporate Relations Manager) By Matthew Hirsch every full ICC member country in both tests and Tendulkar on his remarkable achievement. tendered her resignation on 17 March. ODIs. It was a game that India would ultimately lose All this while the boys in green and gold achin Tendulkar became the first batsman in There were no over-the-top celebrations from after Bangladesh put in a terrific effort to chase attempt to keep their eye on the prize. Shistory to make 100 international centuries Tendulkar after he reached one of the highlights down a challenging total, but this game was all Fikile Mbalula put it aptly: “The fight is on Friday in the Asia Cup against Bangladesh of his career. He simply took his helmet off, waved about Tendulkar. The man idolised by cricket fans about money. As a minister, I spend time at the Shere Bangla Stadium. Tendulkar had the bat towards the crowds and dressing room and in India and across the world further sealed his mediating greediness in sport. I would to be patient for this milestone, as he had been looked up above, as he normally does. ‘The Little legacy as one of the greatest ever to play the game. want to spend more time mediating stuck on 99 centuries for almost a year. On top Master’ proved once again that he is the perfect Tendulkar, who has the most runs and has played transformation and development in of this, it was also his first ODI hundred against role model for the gentlemen’s game. Several of the most matches, will definitely go down in the sport.” Bangladesh, completing his set of centuries against the Bangladesh players also came to congratulate history books as a true sporting legend. In his report, Nicholson made several recommendations for the complete refurbishment of the CSA administration – advice that could be well-applied to Been there, done that, broke the record other sporting federations and that they might do well to heed. Athletics South By Morgan Collins Nevertheless, they soldiered on with the overwhelming support they Africa, for example, could be facing received from each other, RUPC members, friends, family and sponsors. liquidation if they do not meet their full day of continuous pool-playing is challenging for most people. 72 “It can’t be stressed enough how important their support was for us,” obligation to pay the R7 million debt Ahours is even tougher - and 72 hours and 34 minutes is record-breaking. McMenamin said. they owe to Accelerate. Swimming South Rhodes Pool Club (RUPC) Chairman Kevin McMenamin and Some of this support came in the form of fellow pool players Dylan Africa is considering retrenching staff Entertainment Representative Shaun Gordon undertook this feat earlier this Jansen, Robin Jackson and Gali Hartuv, who played the traditional 24 hours. just a few months before the London month, successfully breaking the world record for the longest pool session Ntsikelelo Que Qoyo and Delon Tarantaal attempted 72 hours, but dropped Olympics, to meet financial obligations. ever. They started at 9am on Thursday 8 March and played right through out after 28 hours and 45 minutes. South Africa Sports Confederation and until Sunday morning. The event saw a constant stream of supporters throughout the weekend, Olympic Committee President Gideon Over and above using the event to publicise the RUPC and its facilities, some of whom took the opportunity to play a few games and compete for the Sam has repeatedly made statements McMenamin said that it was about the challenge to them. “We wanted to numerous spot prizes on offer. about the dire situation of funding for see exactly how far we can push ourselves in comparison to our traditional Now the proud holder of a Guinness world record, McMenamin feels that this year’s Olympics. 24-hour event.” he “personally found a whole new level of determination and willpower that The latest development at the time Despite having several of these 24-hour challenges under their belts, this [he] never knew [he] had”. After catching up on some well-deserved sleep, of going to print was the suspension of particular one took its toll, especially “when sleep deprivation set in with Gordon and McMenmin will no doubt return to the pool tables to set new Gerlad Majola, pending an inquiry. about 12 hours to go,” said McMenamin. records. A sport Let’s get

ballin’By Tommie Gilbert

he squeak of the sneakers on wood resounds in the hall, and the silent anticipation of the crowd is palpable. The Rhodes basketball season has begun! TIt’s an exciting time on the hardwood courts of Rhodes as the internal league and university teams get to start their season off almost simultaneously. Both the men’s and women’s Rhodes basketball teams are showing signs of promise that this could be a very successful year. The first term saw the Rhodes men’s and women’s basketball teams taking part in the Eastern Cape league which has already commenced. The Rhodes’ women’s teams have won all their games and have made it to the final, beating the Zwide Panthers 61 – 23 in their semi-final game last weekend. They will be playing against the Comets in the The Ratz face off against PHD during the 3-on-3 half court internal league basketball on Friday 16 March 2012. PHD won the game 5-3. Pic: final, who they have already beaten this season. Matthew Hirsch Last week Friday saw the internal league get underway in the form of ‘3-on-3 Street Fridays’. The competition pits This series of 10-minute half-court games played by teams term,” the team said. For those spectators interested in opponents against each other on a half-court surface in a of three are held every Friday evening from 6pm to about other entertainment, the event will also host performances fast-paced, exhausting game of basketball that is sure to keep 8pm at Alec Mullins Hall. “We hope to sign up enough from the Rhodes cheerleaders, and music from the Hip Hop the crowd on its feet. teams to be able to run the competition over all of next society. Changing the face of inter-res By Kendra Dykman sports representatives of each residence by having fewer events allowed more of a say in the new model. throughout the year. These will take the form of one inter-res There has been some contention from the Board of Residences ven if you don’t believe that the world is truly going to end in weekend per term, with a lot fewer sports being incorporated into regarding the manner in which sporting codes have been included E2012, you have no choice but to accept that a change is coming the plan. Sports Admin aims to transform inter-res, turning the or excluded in the inter-res calendar. Certain codes were dropped about in the model for inter-res events. focus to ‘res-bonding’ and spirit. They hope that one event a term from the calendar without being told, even though they were well- In the past, inter-res events occurred on weekends and in the will encourage people to come and support their houses. attended in the previous years’ events. Sports Admin says that it has middle of the week throughout the year, incorporating around “I don’t think that the new inter-res model is an improvement. chosen sports with a greater spectator value or capacity, such as the 30 different sports – nearly all that are offered by Rhodes Sport. I think it’s an easy way to avoid having to organise a lot of events,” athletics that took place during Live Smart week. According to Swantje Zschernack, the warden of Margaret Smith, a says Vicky Gross, Margaret Smith sub-warden and former sports Sports Admin says that this new model is still under scrutiny and new model has been introduced and has posed quite a controversial representative for the same house. “The number of events is not the is going through a trial phase. The Live Smart athletics meeting topic of discussion at Board of Residences meetings. She says that problem, but the organisation of them. I think it’s unfair to remove a showed them which areas needed improvement, such as alcohol the change of the model did not go through the right channels vast majority of the sporting codes without consulting the students.” monitoring and improvement of the PA system. before it was approved for implementation. As inter-res is largely student-run, Gross feels that the students They ask that people remain open to trying out this new model, and The new model claims to reduce the workload placed on the involved with organising the inter-res events should have been hope that it increases participation from athletes and supporters. 29 20 March 2012 Science & Technology Stellenbosch plans for free Wi-Fi By Brad de Klerk for academic purposes and generally a greater availability of various ISPs. internet access to the public,” says David Miller, Chairperson of Miller says that tellenbosch University, working in collaboration with MXit the Rhodes University Computer User Society (RUCUS). free Wi-Fi internet and the surrounding community, intends to provide the According to Miller, the implementation of a similar service access would not only town with free Wi-Fi internet access by the middle of 2012. in Grahamstown would be welcomed. “Grahamstown is a small benefit students but SThe initiative hopes to make Stellenbosch a ‘Wi-Fi town’. town with expensive internet because of its location,” he says. also the community of Internet access will be free to anyone within the Stellenbosch Many students struggle with organising internet access off of Grahamstown. “Free area with no registration being required. campus. access to internet for There will, however, be some limits imposed. The service’s “Currently, Rhodes cannot offer this because we don’t have the communities is a step speed will be limited to 1Mbps and there will be a data cap of hardware infrastructure,” he said. “The hardware required would towards the future.” 500MB per 24-hour period. Due to these limitations, this service be expensive and the network infrastructure would take a lot to He adds that this will not be viable for people planning on large downloads but set up and get working.” service would allow rather general internet usage such as social networking, surfing, Rhodes currently provides internet access to some student the Grahamstown VoIP and some online gaming. accommodations in Grahamstown, but the majority of this community to learn about technology and provide them with The service looks promising for students that are living in the service is based on cable technologies and is not free of charge. better access to educational materials. At present however, area or to anyone who was unable to access the Internet before. This has led to many students turning to conventional internet Stellenbosch is at the forefront of increasing community internet “It will provide the students with the ability to access the Internet access methods such as ADSL and 3G technologies provided by acces, with no other universities announcing such plans. Anonymous threatens internet shutdown By Megan Ellis Anonymous has cited government censorship and bills such as SOPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (the Protect IP Act) as the reasons for Operation Blackout. The threat has come at a time n a recent surge of hacktivism, the notorious hacking collective, Anonymous, has announced its when governments are pushing for internet regulation and the crackdown on piracy and hackers. This Ibiggest undertaking yet – to shut down the Internet all over the world. crackdown has not left the group unaffected, with several of its prominent members being taken into The group is known for its hacking in protest against regulation on the web, and more recently, against custody in recent weeks. “For too long, we have been idle as our brothers and sisters were arrested,” certain governments and banks. However, some have doubted whether the threat is actually from stated an automated voice in a Youtube video posted by TheAnonMessage. “During this time, the Anonymous or just an elaborate April Fool’s hoax. The date which has been set aside for ‘Operation government has been scheming, plotting ways to increase censorship through means of ISP blockades, Blackout’ – 31 March. DNS blockings, search engine censorship, website censorship, and a variety of other methods that Regardless of whether or not it is sincere, some critics have said that the undertaking is not possible. directly oppose the values and ideas of both Anonymous as well as the founding fathers of this country, According to Charlie Fripp from Bizcommunity.com, this is not the first reference to an Operation who believed in free speech and press!” Blackout, and previous threats to shut down major websites such as Facebook have gone unfulfilled. Smith says that while hacktivism can be positive, it is important that collectives such as Anonymous In his article, Fripp also notes that a collective such as Anonymous has no leader, and therefore some don’t go too far. “Hacktivism can be a good for freedom of speech, and a way to get information out decisions are unsupported or even refuted later by its members. there,” says Smith. “But hacktivists are sometimes rather malicious... which gives them an unfortunate While Anonymous laid out the details of their plan – to target 13 specific DNS servers and shoot name.” down the Internet indefinitely – its effects would only be temporary. Devlin Smith, a Computer Science He adds that the collective has his support in terms of its fight against internet regulation. “Personally Honours student, says that while it is possible to disrupt the Internet, a true shutdown is not possible. I’m for them when they’re fighting against SOPA and ACTA (the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade He adds that if it were possible, the repercussions for online business and banks would be significant. Agreement),” says Smith. “But not when they are stalking some kid that called [them] names.” SciTech round-up By Megan Ellis

A Japanese company has unveiled plans to build the world’s first space elevator. Obayashi Corporation plans to make this concept a reality by 2050. The elevator will be able to take 30 passengers 36 000km above the earth’s surface – a quarter of the way to the moon. The elevator’s cable will stretch from Earth to a space-borne counterweight. Even though the elevator will move 125 mph, it will take them a week to reach the space waystation.

Bioware has seen a wave of criticism from gamers across the world for what has been called a disappointing ending to its latest release, Mass Effect 3. While the trilogy is over, developers have promised a large array of downloadable content to be released. However, many fans have said that they are not interested in this content because of what some have called ‘the most disappointing ending ever’.

The recent study of fossils found in China 20 years ago has led to the potential discovery of a new human species. The remains, which are between 11 500 and 14 500 years old, include skulls and teeth. The fossils People sit on a street in front of an Apple store as they wait for the release of the new iPad in Tokyo 16 March, 2012. Apple’s new iPad uses chips made by include features of both ancient and modern humans, Qualcomm , Broadcom, Samsung Electronics and other semiconductor makers, according to repair firm iFixit, which cracked open one of the devices. In a great show of unoriginality, Apple has announced that the new iPad is called just that – the iPad. However, despite sharing the name of its 2010 but also some new features. For the time being, they predecessor, the device boasts new features such as 9.7” display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536, which makes it the first HD tablet ever. To accompany are being called the ‘Red Deer Cave people’, as this is this display it now includes a camera capable of 1080p recording. Pic: REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoo where they were found.